Wednesday Links
New Slip in Housing Prices [NY Times] Billions to Fight Foreclosure, But Few New Loans [NY Times] River Castle Further Crumbles [NY Times] In Between Holidays, Nothing Happens but Magic [NY Times] Bed Stuy Volunteer Ambulance Corp Can’t Give EMT Exam on Site [Daily News] Police Arlington Needs Restoration [Daily News] Former Bar/Lounge Space in…

New Slip in Housing Prices [NY Times]
Billions to Fight Foreclosure, But Few New Loans [NY Times]
River Castle Further Crumbles [NY Times]
In Between Holidays, Nothing Happens but Magic [NY Times]
Bed Stuy Volunteer Ambulance Corp Can’t Give EMT Exam on Site [Daily News]
Police Arlington Needs Restoration [Daily News]
Former Bar/Lounge Space in N. Bklyn Hts May be Revived [Brooklyn Daily Eagle]
St. Anne’s Head to Move to Bklyn Friends [Brooklyn Daily Eagle]
Photo: Wmsburgh Bank Lions by Crown Heights North
Al Vann is the City Council Member – he is not to blame. This is a state issue
Denton;
Thanks for the history of the Empire State Plaza, but I still stand by my statement. Sometimes things go astray in projects – both great and menial. A similiar problem is going on right now to the I.M.Pei-designed East Wing of the National Gallery in Washington, DC. Despite these problems, the East Wing is a quality building, made of quality materials.
Despite the remediation needed, I still stand by my statement that the Empire State Plaza has held up well, and uses quality materials. Have you seen it lately? I agree with Minard’s statement above: I can think of no finer civic project from this period of time, when ALOT of schlock was built. Not only does it work better than Cadman Plaza, but it has held up better than Lincoln Center (which just went through an overhaul to remediate its flaws, both structural and architectural).
I don’t get your point about my supposed inconsistency regarding landmarking and this project. I oppose landmarking because it is like rent control: government interference in a private market, except that it is for the benefit of the gentry. I have no problem with the use of eminent domain for public purposes, which is clearly the case for the Empire State Plaza, and it is irrelevant what class of neighborhood is being condemned.
Those lions look quite happy with their treasure!
“BHO, should we sell our house now and buy gold for now? How long do you think gold will hold up?”
Definitely sell your house if you’re banking on a market value significantly higher than half off peak comps. We’re already down -20% which puts even the standard borrower at sea level (that’s assuming no refi’s). Exploit the reGOVery while it lasts. If you’re already ‘Hunting for Red October’, negotiate a shortsale or walk.
I’m no longer sure about gold. Debt/money supply is now deflating. I haven’t sold yet and might buy more depending on how this economic collapse plays out.
***Bid half off peak comps***
Alphaville…Albany style.
It’s kind of too bad there is a whole “lot of nothin'” going on in Albany.
Hhh…
The Egg!
Yes!
From the outside, it’s one of the coolest looking performance spaces I know. (I haven’t seen L.A.’s Disney Hall).
Even today, it still looks curiously futuristic, despite (because of?) it’s plain shape and plain material.
It’s kind of like a cross between some sort of outerspace church, a weird nuclear power plant, and a large rock.
Strange in its apparent simplicity.
The inside’s not bad, either.
BTW, I’ve taken the Am Trak trip up the Hudson over 100 times and I never tire of it.
I’m glad Denton pointed out the above.
I know the “South Mall” quite well. It is a great civic space but has had and continues to have issues. The art collection was a testament to 60’s abstract expressionism, op and minimalism. I view the place as a kind of time capsule of architecture, art and America’s aspirations at that time.
I kind of thought the style of building was done with once the mall was completed but who knew that style would come back and be re-promoted these last bunch of years?
No one mentioned “the Egg”! I have to admit, I never have liked approaching the Egg from the plaza outdoors in the wind (hair goes in all directions!) but the interiors are kicky.
I always enjoy the trip by train up the Hudson. The river is spectacular and you can see why it was considered the most scenic North American must-see into the 1800’s (of course there was Niagara Falls and many, many years later the “West” became a tourist destination)–but the Hudson really took the cake at a specific moment in American History.
I’ve never found the castle to be that nice. I find it to be kind of ugly. It’s a cute idea but this is not the Rhineland–let’s face it.
Amtrak hosts scenic tours run by the US Parks Dept. Retirees give talks in the dining/cafe car during the day. Although they’re not superlative…or terribly accurate on all things, the gentlemen who do the presentations (and tend to be train buffs) do, in fact, know a lot about the trains. I found the talk interesting. They didn’t know enough about many of the Hudson River mansions/estates…
BHO, should we sell our house now and buy gold for now? How long do you think gold will hold up?
“Though starkly modernist, it is well done, and has held up well. I think that one of the reasons for this is the use of quality materials.”
benson, you’re funny. In fact there were major issues with the 125,000 marble panels, not only the stone itself but the means of attachment. Fixing it was a major project headed up by the engineering firm of Wiss Janney Elstner. Altho they’ve been around a long time I believe it was one of their biggest projects ever.
Also since you have mentioned you dislike landmarking since it allegedly displaces the working class, you should know that 9,000 families were displaced to build that empire to big government.
I used to work in the Empire State Plaza.
Wonderful place to work.
All the office buildings are connected underground by a “mall,” where you can get food and even shop a little bit in some small stores.
When the weather is nice, there’s nice places to walk outside.
The vibe in the Empire State Plaza is great.
First, it’s a priviledge to work in the capital plaza of arguably the greatest State in the world.
Second, the layout of the Plaza is really convenient and pleasant.
I had a friend who worked in NY politics and who hated Rockefeller. He hated the Empire State Plaza, too. He felt it looked and felt “fascist, just like Rockefeller.”
Hard, severe, unsympathetic, cold, graceless.
He had a good point.
But it is a lovely fascism.