By Gus Saltonstall
In June of 2023, Lincoln Center announced a new initiative to make the Amsterdam Avenue side of its campus “more welcoming.”
The famed performing arts center described the initiative’s goal as breaking down barriers between Lincoln Center and the local community. Lincoln Center stretches from around West 62nd to 65th streets along Amsterdam Avenue. It was developed in the 1950s and 60s in a process that razed the nearby San Juan Hill community comprising mostly African-American, Afro-Caribbean, and Puerto Rican residents.
By Lincoln Center’s own admission, the “campus was ultimately designed with a fortress-like wall along Amsterdam Avenue,” separating the neighborhood to the west of Lincoln Center, and making it largely inaccessible to foot traffic.
This fortress-like wall is in stark contrast to the iconic Revson Fountain and open pedestrian plaza that sits on the eastside entrance to the arts center.
This past summer, Lincoln Center said it would begin this redesign with a “robust” participatory planning process, and that is what it has done. Over the past six months, the performing arts center has hosted more than 3,400 neighborhood residents, nearby New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) tenants, advocates, community groups, staff and students from nearby schools, and others to share their ideas and feedback about the campus and ways it could be improved for those on the west side of it.
A significant portion of the residents who live west of Lincoln Center in the immediate area are tenants of the NYCHA Amsterdam and Amsterdam Addition Houses, which are made up of 14 buildings from West 61st to 65th streets between West End and Amsterdam avenues.
You can read the full 47-page feedback report from the thousands of neighbors and stakeholders that participated in the planning process — HERE.
On Monday, Lincoln Center announced that the first phase of the new redesign will be focused on delivering a major revitalization to Damrosch Park, which is a 2.4 acre park that sits at Amsterdam Avenue and West 62nd Street.
The park occupies the largest footprint of any one area on the west side of Lincoln Center’s campus, but “does not currently accommodate the extensive needs for a wide range of performance types,” a news release about the redesign stated.
Damrosch is a park under the jurisdiction of the New York City Parks Department, but is operated and maintained by Lincoln Center.
Lincoln Center also announced the organizations and people that will lead the park’s revitalization.
- Landscape Architect: Hood Design
- Design Architect: Weiss/Manfredi
- Architect of Record: Moody Nolan
Along with the work around Damrosch Park, this design team will develop and present ideas to the public “that reflect the community’s aspirations, ideals, and visions for the Amterdam Avenue side of the Lincoln Center campus,” the release said.
One of the key sentiments of the stakeholder sessions was that the entrance on the west side of the campus “feel welcoming and offer pathways where everyone can enter, regardless of physical ability, particularly along Amsterdam Avenue and 62nd Streets.”
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Making it more friendly and accessible is a good idea. The arts are for everyone!
Glad to hear this. I’ve always hated walking along that chilling, featureless wall; it’s more appropriate for a prison than a performing arts center. I hope the re-design opens that aspect of Lincoln Center to the neighborhood of which it is a part. One has to wonder whether the original plan was meant — deliberately or otherwise — to turn its back to the nearby NYCHA housing and its residents.
What exactly does it mean that “Damrosch is a park under the jurisdiction of the New York City Parks Department, but is operated and maintained by Lincoln Center.” Is seems that Lincoln Center gets to use the park for whatever it wants, whenever it wants, and keep the public out. Why? Other than not being able to sell the land how is this different than Lincoln Center owning the park?
Many events at Damrosch are free. You sometimes need to reserve tickets in advance, but they’re often free. Any available seats after that are first come/first served with a line that often snakes all the way to Amsterdam Ave. The last couple of years Summer for the City was held there. (And all around the LC campus). All free, often AMAZING shows, including many of our local dance companies, a hip- hop retrospective, music, film., concerts. And on an on. These are collaborative events with the City and many other corporate and educational sponsors.
Bloomberg lost a big lawsuit over private use of the park.
It is not under the jurisdiction of Lincoln Center, albeit LC decides to randomly close the park.
Trying again since my comment wasn’t posted the first time. The Big Apple Circus uses the park for months every year. It is far from free. Unlike the Big Apple Circus of old, it is a for profit business. Who gets paid for allowing them to use this public land — Lincoln Center or thr Parks Dept?
There are things in Central Park, like restaurants, that aren’t free either. What’s the difference? Not everything can be free. The Circus doesn’t perform for free. People have to get paid. The amount of free concerts in Damrosch is astounding. I cannot ever recall the huge stars I have seen there over the years where the concerts are free. A list names. Get on the mailing list and you will benefit greatly.
The restaurants pay Central Park to operate. Likewise the concerts. I’m not suggesting the Big Apple Circus should be free I. Am asking if they pay the parks department or Lincoln Center for the privilege of using this public land.
Yes, the BAC pay Lincoln Center rent in excess of $250K per season
San Juan Hill was a slum. The area is better for having it razed and Lincoln Center built. The city did a horrible job with the NCYHA housing but that’s par for the course.
Why is Lincoln Center not taking input from community members about how to make the complex feel more safe and secure?
Why does Lincoln Center not show more concern for the safety and security of the overall neighborhood?
People can’t come out and support the arts if they don’t feel safe in their own neighborhood.
Art may be for everyone, but only the Living can enjoy it.
Yes, only the living can enjoy it. What!? Lived here for four decades. It’s always been safe and secure.
We attended a concert on the Amsterdam Avenue side of Lincoln Center last year. I’m all for expanding outdoor spaces for concerts, but the noise from traffic on Amsterdam Ave. was awful. Is it possible to construct a plexiglass wall, to cordon off some of that background noise?
Better to divert the traffic, rather than build a wall.
Lincoln Center is taking community input via a survey:
https://submit.jotform.com/240386136757059
Let the People decide everything and you end up with crap. Lincoln Center is the opposite of that, deal with it, leave it alone. Anyone can buy a ticket, and there are many (free) concerts at the library’s auditorium.
Instead of spending millions for another expensive construction project, Lincoln Center should spend the money on free music lessons and instruments and tickets for low-income children and families.
Real lessons.
BTW reminder that Lincoln Center spent millions to eliminate the front driveway and create a below street driveway.
Guess what – the below street driveway never used.
Now closed off.
What a waste.