Reminder: Hugely Important Public Hearing on City’s Plans to Demolish Landmarked Tony Dapolito Recreation Center This Wednesday

A critical update from the City regarding their proposal to demolish the landmarked Tony Dapolito Recreation Center at Carmine and Clarkson Streets takes place this Wednesday, February 5 at 6:30 pm at Community Board 2 — see here. We fully expect the City to continue to argue for demolition of the historic, landmarked building, which would enable them to seek to build another tower like that planned for the Meatpacking District on the site (see above).
The City cannot demolish this city, state, and nationally landmarked building without going through several public approval processes. They have allowed the building to deteriorate and failed to undertake necessary repairs over the last five years and now, using specious arguments, claim it would be too expensive or too impractical to repair the building. This follows overwhelming turnout opposing demolition plans at the last Community Board 2 hearing (which the City refused to attend), and the board passing a resolution calling for restoration rather than razing of the structure. Village Preservation has opposed this plan from the beginning, and engaged other preservation organizations from across the city and state to also oppose it.
We strongly urge you to sign up to attend (either in person or via Zoom) and speak strongly in opposition to demolition, and to call for the Tony Dapolito Center being repaired and reopened (note: registration allows you to attend; once at the meeting or online, you’ll be instructed on how to testify).
TO HELP: