Published on 12/1/08
Published on 12/1/08
Video
1 The Westin Hotel
2 Ground Zero
3 Port Authority
4 Madison Square Garden
5 Trump World
Blights 6–10
6 AT&T Long Lines Building, Church St at Thomas St
This Church Street building, a nearly windowless vertical castle, looks like it belongs to a phone company. Oh, wait…
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7 Daily News Building, 220 E 42nd St between Second and Third Aves
The Art Deco entrance: beautiful. Everything on top of it: not. See for yourself at 33rd Street between Ninth and Tenth Avenues.
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8 Westbeth Building, 55 Bethune St at Washington St
This West Village compound was meant to be like the projects, only for artists. Yet its blocky look could hardly serve as a muse.
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9 Julian Schnabel pink building, 360 W 11th St between Washington and West Sts
Okay, we loved Basquiat and hear The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is pretty good, but just because you make a few decent movies and are a crazy artist doesn’t mean you can paint your West Village building hot pink and get away with it. Just ask the (many, angry) neighbors.
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10 Bayside Apartments, Bayside, Queens
We have our own reasons, but the Queens Crap blog says it best: queenscrap.blogspot.com/search?q=bayside+apartments.
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Rob G
Thu, Oct 18, 07, at 12:38pm
it is outrageous that you'd include Westbeth the one of the only remaining affordable housing for artists in NYC in a blight list. It was created under an innovative program to convert the abandoned Bell Labs research center, that once housed Einstein's Lab into a vibrant community for artists to live and work. It is well maintained and hosts many community events. And was the birth place of the annual Halloween Parade. Have you ever been to any art events or musical performances there? Or have you decided to compete with Absolute and cater to the Lawyers & Hedge Fund leaches?
bjbpro
Thu, Oct 18, 07, at 12:02pm
Westbeth! Are you nuts? It is a very attractive and original building -- and how cool is it that a train once ran through it and you can still see where? With all the monstrosities there are -- what about including the misguided Miami on the Hudson glass Meier nightmares?
My2Cents
Thu, Oct 11, 07, at 2:25pm
It's too bad you are so focused on Manhattan. There are some real losers in Brooklyn. Mr Katans Tower on 16th street comes to mind. Henry Radusky, the architect, has a history of over building these things that look like prisons.
ghostof'lectricity
Wed, Oct 10, 07, at 10:44pm
I agree, an unforgettable tragedy; but if handled right, the sight could be transformative for the spirit of New York- and all humankind. I'd say the jury is still out.
ghostof'lectricity
Wed, Oct 10, 07, at 9:42pm
Everything the man is connected with is a blight. The man is a blight. Now he's blighting up the skyline of my home town (Chicago) with a monstrosity that will detract from its beautiful neighbors, the Wrigley Bldg. and Tribune Tower. Please, New York, I love you, but DT and his creations are one NY export we Chicagoans can do without.