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In the News: Lawsuit Filed to Save Clocktower
••• Re: 346 Broadway: “Wealthy real estate developers want to close off the beloved landmark clock to the public and make it part of a new luxury penthouse for a supperrich buyer, critics say. A group of preservationists and clock enthusiasts has filed suit to stop the developers, Elad Properties and the Peebles Corporation, from making the suite that houses the clock off limits to everyday New Yorkers as part of a plan to turn the building into luxe condos.” I love that building, and I think it’s great it’s being converted, but the clock should be public. What’s ridiculous is that the city didn’t deal with this when it sold off the property. —Daily News (which has a photo of the statue that used to be on top; the developers are recreating it)
••• “The Battery Park City Authority has enacted 2,800 words of new rules governing conduct in the neighborhood’s parks” including “no more geocaching, paintballing, stealing birds eggs, or prospecting for doubloons.” —Broadsheet
••• “A woman who allegedly stalked Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is now accused of lying to score a subsidized apartment [at 88 Leonard].” —Real Deal
••• A profile of nightclub owner Richie Akiva, who grew up in Tribeca. —New York Times
••• “London’s Groucho Club, founded in 1985, became a hotspot for those in the media, artists and numerous celebrities. The club, located in London’s Soho neighborhood, was recently sold, and is now eyeing a new location in downtown Manhattan.” They’re saying “Lower Manhattan,” which could mean anything. —DNAinfo
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I’m not sure if I’m missing something, so if I am I hope someone can explain. To my knowledge, the inside of the clock tower has never been “public”. It isn’t public now. As long as the new owner is required to guarantee access to the clock room for maintenance that ensures that the PUBLIC will be able to enjoy a working and very beautiful clock from the outside for generations to come, what is the big deal?
In 1977 and until, possibly, 1987 I was able to walk up to the roof, through the top floor, past the clock mechanisms and so on. There were parties up in those galleries all the time. I don’t know exactly when it changed officially, but there were no barriers to public access at least through the mid-eighties. I don’t recall having reasons to go up there after then.
It’s a city landmark, and what is being proposed would privatize it, denying any possibility of the public ever accessing or viewing it, which could then set a legal precedent for other public assets.
And, the historic mechanical mechanism would be gutted and replaced by a modern electric one.
You can read about it at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/13/nyregion/a-landmark-tower-clock-will-stay-but-its-ticktock-could-be-silenced.html
Thanks Robert, but I still don’t really see the issue. As long as the owner is required to allow access to the clock to keep it running in perpetuity, I have absolutely no problem with this. The “public” has never had access to this room and still doesn’t. Unless you count the two clock tower tenders as the “public”. If so, just make sure whoever buys the unit is required to provide access. I strongly believe in Landmarks Laws, but I also believe we have to be reasonable.
luis, i don’t know when the public stopped having access to the room but it definitely did in the past. i distinctly remember viewing the clock works and a public art gallery adjacent to it. i believe the roof was open to the public as well. being inside a working antique clock was a lot more interesting than the art in the gallery next door. replacing the mechanical works with an electric mechanism would be a travesty. i really hope they win the suit and i will make sure to take my daughter to see the clockworks at the first opportunity.
They were still having parties up there until 2013 when the clocktower gallery left.
Up until the gallery left in 2013, it was public accessible. Great video of the end days at Gothamist: http://gothamist.com/2013/11/21/kiss_tribecas_clocktower_gallery_go.php
Hello, Luis,
I am honestly curious about what you think the purpose served by Landmarks Laws is. I have often read your comments on this site – mostly regarding the South Street Seaport and Howard Hughes Corp development plans — and never once read a word in support of preservation of anything – quite the opposite. I worry that this sounds rude – and i don’t intend it in that spirit – I honestly don’t understand how you can write so often and so vigorously in favor of new development that requires demolition of historical structures and interference with historical view sheds or, in this case, privatization and destruction of a sublime civic treasure — and still say you believe in Landmarks protections.
I would like to understand.
He is a real estate agent. Enough said.
It def was accessible to the public as recent as 2012 if you were with Marvin or Forest. When we were up in the clock tower I mentioned to Forest that, while walking home on Broadway at night, I could see some of the bulbs on the clock face were burned out. Forest gave us a box of bulbs and my friends and I replaced the bulbs on the spot while Forest wound the clock! I have a video of it some place; if I can find it, I will post it.
The Clocktower Suite has always been publicly accessible, so let us get the facts straight. A travel guide of New York from 1901 says this: “The Merchants Association has headquarters in the building and issues guests cards of admission to the tower, whence an admirable view is afforded”
The entire suite where the famous art gallery (which occupied the publicly accessible space as of 1972) was specifically designated as an interior landmark. The art gallery was famous and one of the iconic art spaces of NYC for many, many years. You could just walk in during its hours of operation.
I’ve seen many photos from way back with visitors leaning over from the tower suite admiring the view.
Marvin (NYC’s official clock master) and his assistant, Forest, took me up to the clock tower as well. They were both very happy to take me up and show me around. I was simply amazed by the massive clock in the tower. It’s a marvel of history. See pic below.
Is someone really going to destroy it? I was told it was a NYC landmark. Why is the Landmarks Preservation Commission doing nothing to stop this greedy developer who clearly has no respect for American/NYC history. Did someone inform DeBlasio? I thought he was going to prevent the developers from destroying NYC?
http://tribecatrib.com/content/time-running-out-famed-clock-tribecas-clock-tower-building
DeBlasio, in exchange for some housing and a positive headline will do whatever the developers tell him.
Thanks Lynn, this is the first I’m hearing about it. So what to do? It’s no longer an office building. It’s being converted to a Condominium. How does it remain public and who is responsible for it? This is a difficult question.