Comments on: Losing Ground at Chelsea Square http://www.architakes.com/?p=9670 on architecture in New York and beyond Sat, 06 Apr 2013 01:42:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Roger Cumming http://www.architakes.com/?p=9670&cpage=1#comment-1910 Roger Cumming Mon, 20 Jun 2011 21:12:47 +0000 http://www.architakes.com/?p=9670#comment-1910 Thank you for explaining why the "Seminary block" of 20th Street is such an urban treasure. As you explain, building in a park is a desperate, antisocial act. In this instance, it raises awkward questions. How can a principal in the architectural firm designing this project also serve as a Landmarks Commissioner, supposedly acting in the public interest? (He can't, without compromising himself). What control over the design, if any, is being exercised by the Seminary? (Probably none). How can the LPC oversee the degradation of the Seminary grounds having previously declared it worthy of preservation? Has "preservation" taken on a new, more nuanced meaning known only to the LPC? I keep thinking about that village in Vietnam that had to be destroyed in order to be saved. Thank you for explaining why the “Seminary block” of 20th Street is such an urban treasure.  As you explain, building in a park is a desperate, antisocial act.  In this instance, it raises awkward questions.  How can a principal in the architectural firm designing this project also serve as a Landmarks Commissioner, supposedly acting in the public interest? (He can’t, without compromising himself).  What control over the design, if any, is being exercised by the Seminary?  (Probably none).  How can the LPC oversee the degradation of the Seminary grounds having previously declared it worthy of preservation?  Has “preservation” taken on a new, more nuanced meaning known only to the LPC?

I keep thinking about that village in Vietnam that had to be destroyed in order to be saved.

]]>