The city’s Parks Department presented plans this week for the crumbling but iconic New York State Pavilion.
An option to tear down the deteriorating 1964-65 World’s Fair figure, which is in need of an inordinate amount of internal and external fixes, could cost $14 million.
But a plan to restore the site could cost $73 million, according to a Parks study.
Architectural firm Perkins + Will created an “adaptive reuse” concept, which would modify the site and add event spaces and landscaped paths.
Parks detailed a plan to stabilize the towers by replacing perimeter walls, elevator shafts and equipment and bringing all electrical up to code.
People for the Pavilion, an advocacy group for the site, feels the “best action would be to make it an institution, a cultural center that can be used for future generations,” said member Matthew Silva.
Another option would stabilize the Observation Towers and the Tent of Tomorrow for $43 million, prohibiting public access.
Silva countered that plan and said that “certainly stabilizing it is something that is nice, but then it’s not something that can be utilized.”
“We want to advocate for making that part of the park a usable and very lively place. It should be used in a dynamic way,” he said.
Additionally, a tentative plan to restore the Pavilion to again include access to the Tent and Towers, will climb to about $52 million.
Costs quoted for preliminary plans are rough estimates, said a Parks spokesperson. The department will accept feedback at community meetings. Dates will be announced soon.
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