In late July, Village Preservation and several dozen groups from across Lower Manhattan, New York City, and New York State wrote Mayor Adams and Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro calling on them to begin plans to restore, modernize, and reopen the historic and landmarked Tony Dapolito Recreation Center at 1 Clarkson Street, which has been closed for five years due to neglect. Mayor Adams wishes to demolish the building in spite of its landmark status. The letter from a broad array of community and preservation organizations comes on the heels of local Councilmember Erik Bottcher and the City Council approving the Mayor’s requested funds to demolish the building in the 2026 city budget, over the objections of scores of community organizations and thousands of New Yorkers who are fighting to see the building restored (Councilmember Bottcher has, paradoxically, also called on the Mayor to repair and restore the building).

We may learn more about the Mayor’s plans at a Community Board 2 Parks Committee meeting on August 6 at 6:30 pm, at which an update from the Parks Department is an agenda item (note that the item is listed as an update and not a public hearing, so public comment may be limited or not allowed). While Community Board 2 has gone on record strongly opposing demolition and demanding restoration of the building, several leaders of the Parks Committee have encouraged the City to pursue demolition of the site rather than restoration.

Village Preservation is continuing to fight for repair, restoration, and reopening of the building. We won a significant victory when we got the City to drop plans to build a non-Parks-related structure on the site, but we still have a long way to go to save the Center.