This is, well, laughable....
Iconic Forest Hills Tennis Stadium Rejected For Landmark Hearing
If this isn't all about politics, big-business connections and that kind of bullshit I don't know what is... it all comes down to development - if they landmark it, the developers aren't free to do anything they want with the site.
What is most offensive about this is their arrogance - they think the public is stupid.
Here's another article about the ruling: Forest Hills Tennis Stadium Denied Landmark Status
For those of you new to this blog, I have always been in favor of preserving this historic stadium. I am all for progress and moving forward, if anything, to an extreme degree. I believe Forest Hills needs more development, not less. We need more modern spaces for big retailers and big restaurants to come in, but at the same time preserving our smaller restaurants and retailers. Any long-time resident who has a problem with that should've taken it up years ago with the City when it plowed its lovely Queens Blvd. through the center of Forest Hills. That fantasy is over and it is now important that we make the best of what we have. We can do that through proper, attractive new developments.
However, as far as I see it, we have a few charming elements left here in Forest Hills:
If the Tennis Stadium is to be developed in some way, the charm and amazing history of the site should somehow be incorporated. And of course it should be done for common use and hopefully as a tourist draw so our local retailers get more foot traffic on Austin and get more business. That would ripple across the surrounding areas as well, I would think, including the very dilapidated, sad state of affairs along Queens Blvd. heading towards Kew Gardens.
Iconic Forest Hills Tennis Stadium Rejected For Landmark Hearing
If this isn't all about politics, big-business connections and that kind of bullshit I don't know what is... it all comes down to development - if they landmark it, the developers aren't free to do anything they want with the site.
What is most offensive about this is their arrogance - they think the public is stupid.
Here's another article about the ruling: Forest Hills Tennis Stadium Denied Landmark Status
For those of you new to this blog, I have always been in favor of preserving this historic stadium. I am all for progress and moving forward, if anything, to an extreme degree. I believe Forest Hills needs more development, not less. We need more modern spaces for big retailers and big restaurants to come in, but at the same time preserving our smaller restaurants and retailers. Any long-time resident who has a problem with that should've taken it up years ago with the City when it plowed its lovely Queens Blvd. through the center of Forest Hills. That fantasy is over and it is now important that we make the best of what we have. We can do that through proper, attractive new developments.
However, as far as I see it, we have a few charming elements left here in Forest Hills:
- Austin St.
- Station Square
- Forest Hills Gardens
- The Tennis Stadium
- Many of the coop buildings. I have to say many of them do the best they can to beautify the area with some pretty stunning landscaping and the excellent upkeep of their properties.
If the Tennis Stadium is to be developed in some way, the charm and amazing history of the site should somehow be incorporated. And of course it should be done for common use and hopefully as a tourist draw so our local retailers get more foot traffic on Austin and get more business. That would ripple across the surrounding areas as well, I would think, including the very dilapidated, sad state of affairs along Queens Blvd. heading towards Kew Gardens.
