Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

joyousRock t1_ixe9ag4 wrote

Reply to comment by brianvan in Magnificent pictures of New York's old Penn Station before it was demolished, 1910-1963 by Hidethegoodbiscuits

I think it's so hard for us to understand how it could have been torn down because we're 60 years removed from the mindset of that time.

No buildings like this would be owned by private companies today, but that's what this was. a civilizational treasure owned by a private company. when that company's entire industry collapsed, people saw replacing something built by a dying industry as progress. didn't have the foresight to appreciate the rarity of what they had.

3

brianvan t1_ixeaas8 wrote

It got a ton of blowback. People hated the plan! But it had no legal protection such as landmarking. If that solution were even available, Pennsy would have fought it. Teardown plans were already being circulated as early as 10 years prior to the actual teardown occurring.

Even today, notable buildings constantly get razed while LPC sits on their hands. And then non-serious proposals for small ugly buildings are put forward constantly by people just looking to lock out neighboring developments, wasting everyone’s time.

I would prefer to see deliberate public planning and architecture. With a serious budget. And with an open mind toward removing obsolete buildings to replace them with modernized versions of what came before it, minus all the ticky tack crap about reusing bricks and beams and what not.

2