The chatter about the future of 35 Cooper Square all leads to one place: DORM.
Well! The NYU Local asked NYU spokesperson John Beckman about the space:
No, we’re not buying the Cooper Square property.
It’s interesting—before our [2031] planning effort, and the strategy for developing the superblocks, this is the kind of opportunity we might have pursued. And if we are ultimately unsuccessful with the plan for the superblocks we are bringing through the City approvals process, this is the kind of nearby property — even though controversial — that we’d be led to consider as an option.
"And if we are ultimately unsuccessful with the plan for the superblocks we are bringing through the City approvals process, this is the kind of nearby property — even though controversial — that we’d be led to consider as an option."
ReplyDeleteSo, they're not buying it...yet?
Given that this is the same organization that promised to save and incorporate both the Palladium and the MacDougal Street theater into their ever-expanding real estate empire, I would take John Beckman's statement with a Dead Sea's worth of salt. "Even though controversial" - since when did that ever stop NYU? That kind of stuff is mother's milk to those lying hellhounds.
ReplyDelete"If we don't get approval for our superblocks, we might have to consider knocking down other buildings instead. It'd be better all around if you just play ball with us, understand? Just give us what we want and nobody else gets hurt. Lovely place you got here, shame if something happened to it. Oops, how clumsy of me! What a butterfingers I am! This is exactly the kind of damage we can protect you from if you'll just go along, because accidents happen..."
ReplyDeleteWould there be time to appeal directly to the National Trust? I've seen a few developers shamed out of projects simply by the publicity kicked up about old buildings by the National Trust. However, that takes into account that some - hardly any- developers have souls.
ReplyDelete