What will all the tourists take pictures of? Two of the top photo ops in the neighborhood are under wraps and could be for several months. The Dakota, the historic building on the corner of 72nd street and Central Park West, was covered in scaffolding last week, and the Bow Bridge in Central Park is about to get covered up for a rehab project that could last more than three months. The Dakota has a permit for the scaffolding until February, though it’s not clear how long it will be up. The bridge is in the middle of The Lake in the 70’s.
The Central Park Conservancy sent a notice about the closure of the bridge, and some history.
“Starting Monday, April 27, the popular span will be closed to the public for structural work and a fresh coat of paint. The work is expected to last three to four months. Removing the old paint will require wrapping the bridge in a tent-like structure to prevent debris from falling into the water.
Along with repainting, the work will include replacing the wooden decking, fixing several beams on the underside of the span, and reinforcing approaches at either end.
Built between 1859 and 1862, the cast iron bridge, which is shaped like an archer’s bow, spans more than 60 feet of the Lake. It was designed by architect Calvert Vaux and his assistant Jacob Wrey Mould. Their goal was to avoid having to build a suspension bridge in Central Park.”
Bottom photo via Central Park Conservancy.
i vaguely recall that the bridge received a makeover not that long ago (for a bridge). if i’m right, was the quality of work not up to par—it didn’t last?
if i’m wrong well, never mind.
Re: ‘What will all the tourists take pictures of?”
THEMSELVES, of course, probably using Selfie-Sticks (a.k.a. Narcissis-sticks) to show THEMSELVES in front of something, like the Dakota or any famed landmark.
OR, and this the most laughable, a famed work of art (“Looka ME in front of this Picasso! Looka ME in front of this Monet! But mostly, LOOKA ME, ME, ME”)
Isn’t that what camera’s are for – to capture memories? Must everything annoy you?
What could be better than a picture of me and … ?
Now, if we could only do that to the tourists..
Scaffolders have been surrounding the Dakota building for months, and the works are only starting now. These things are an eyesore and stay foreover on many Manhatthan buildings. I am still puzzled by this lack of work efficiency and the absence of considerations for aestheticism. but I guess there are good reasons!
If you have ever tried to do any permitted construction in NYC you would know this is normal.
Not only do they need the DOB permits to get the scaffold up, then a scaffold contractor, they then need to get all the external work approved by landmarks.
Then get a contractor to do that work.
While having that all seamlessly line up would be great, it does not.