I fully understand that progress (and the core viability of a city) will often mean that not all of its historic structures can be preserved, but this was one structure that should have been saved. Does NY learn from its mistakes? You can be the judge when they eventually publish the demolition of Yankee Stadium.
I also picked up another book at the same time and it's called "The Destruction of Lower Manhattan" by Danny Lyons. In this book Mr. Lyons chronicles the clear-cutting of lower Manhattan next to the Brooklyn Bridge. But unlike Penn Station, I can see why this area had to be demolished, but it's still unfortunate and a great loss.
An excerpt from the book:
Danny Lyons wrote:BEEKMAN STREET AND THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE SOUTHWEST PROJECT DEMOLITION SITE
The passing of the buildings was for me a great event. It didn't matter so much whether they were of architectural importance. What mattered to me was that they were about to be destroyed. Whole blocks would disappear. An entire neighborhood. Its few last loft occupying tenants were being evicted, and no place like it would ever be built again. The streets involved were among the oldest in New York and when sections of some were closed by the barriers of the demolition men, it meant they would never be opened again. Sections of William Street and Beekman Street were removed which were laid out before the 19th century. In 1967 over sixty acres of buildings of Lower Manhatan were demolished.
And some pictures from the book:
West & Caroline Streets.
NYC's loneliest
Chambers & West streets. Note the dangling old one way sign.
A four way Ruleta hiding from the elements at Washington & Chambers streets.
And lastly, an example of some of the beautiful cast iron facades that were torn down on Beekman St.
We finally really did it. You Maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!
