Report: The Astor Place cube will be ready for a spin once more this summer

The Astor Place cube (aka Alamo), out of commission with structural damage since late 2021 (first noted here), will reportedly by spin-worthy again by July 17.

According to The City, there's a proposal from the Department of Transportation in the works.

The plan, which is slated to go before the city's Public Design Commission on Monday for approval, would see the 1,800-pound cube temporarily removed next month and shipped to Bethany, Conn., for restoration by Versteeg Art Fabricators — a firm that also did restorative work to the cube in 2005.

Their proposal calls for fixing the spinning mechanism and reinforcing and repairing the base of the East Village piece by early July.

The barricades first arrived around the cube in December 2021, before the city removed them in late April 2022. At the time, we were told that the spinning mechanism for the cube, which manually rotates around a pole hidden in its center, was not working. A DOT spokesperson previously told us that they didn't have a timeline for repairing the spinning component.

Tony Rosenthal's sculpture first arrived here in November 1967. 

Previously on EV Grieve:
The Alamo returns to Astor Place this Halloween

Five years later, Astor Place apparently ready for its 2-year reconstruction project

This is what it might be like living inside the Alamo on Astor Place

RIP Tony Rosenthal, the sculptor who created the Astor Place cube

On Astor Place, a yearn to spin again

Unless you haven't walked through Astor Place in the past 13 or so months, then you likely know that the cube (aka Alamo) has been out of commission during this time. (First noted here.) 

The city removed the barricades from around the cube in late April 2022. At the time, we were told that the spinning mechanism for the 1,800-pound cube, which manually rotates around a pole hidden in its center, was not working. A DOT spokesperson previously told us that they didn't have a timeline for repairing the spinning component.

The Post had a follow-up on this yesterday. A spokesperson basically said the same thing, that the "DOT is planning a repair to restore the Cube to its original, spinning condition." And: "We'd love to see it so people can spin it again. That's what Tony wanted — he wanted it to be enjoyed and not to be put in a cradle."

Tony Rosenthal's sculpture first arrived here in November 1967. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Spin city: The Alamo remains out of commission on Astor Place (May 6, 2022)