Hours after an exclusive story in The New York Daily News said developer Cord Meyer is set to purchase the storied Forest Hills Tennis Stadium’s 2.5 acres for $9 million and replace its courts and grandstands with luxury condos and swimming pools, some local politicians are saying “not so fast.”
On Wednesday, August 11, a number of elected officials, including Congressmember Anthony Weiner, sent a letter to Councilmember Brad Lander, who chairs the Council’s Landmarks Committee, asking for a study and oversight hearing “to determine the viability of landmarking” the stadium.
The New York Daily News reported that Cord Meyer’s proposal for the 15,000-seat stadium – once home to the U.S. Open until the late 1970s – would be to keep it partially intact, with residential units built within the structure.
Michael Perlman, chair of the Rego-Forest Preservation Council, said that he would rather see the land sold to a developer who would restore and reuse the stadium for what it was originally intended for – tennis.
“The West Side Tennis Club helped establish the sport of tennis in the U.S. Forest Hills is known for tennis, and tennis is known for Forest Hills,” said Perlman. “Sadly, the West Side Tennis Club has neglected an icon, letting it sit somewhat abandoned.”
Perlman said that West Side Tennis Club President Kenneth Parker is not willing to work more closely with the public and acknowledge what they want. He said that Parker merely wants to “make a quick buck” in order to pay off the Club’s debts.
“If managed properly, the stadium can be used once again as the family destination it once was – and it could also help boost jobs,” he said. “It looks disgraceful in terms of reputation for the tennis club and Cord Meyer if they butcher any part of this national icon.”
Messages left for West Side Tennis Club President Kenneth Parker were not returned, and Forest Hills-based Cord Meyer could not be reaching before press time.
The Club had scheduled a vote for August 19, but previously-published reports state that the vote was postponed until September 23 in order to drum up the two-thirds majority needed to pass the plan.
Perlman is pushing for a vote of his own – a public vote to make the Stadium a landmark – but he needs the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) to heed his requests.
“I have submitted requests to the LPC and we are waiting for them to schedule a vote. The people should have a fair say,” he said. “Once a historic site is lost, it can never be brought back. To lose this icon would be a preservation travesty in the first degree.”
