Track field house and comfort station by Aymar Embury II in East River Park,
Manhattan, by the John V. Lindsay East River Park running track at East 6th
Street and the River. The building has been neglected for years and is now
scheduled to be torn down in the
East Coast Resiliency
Project; efforts are underway by the Lower East Side Preservation
Initiative to save it. As of June 2020, "The buildings have been deemed
eligible for the State and National Registers of Historic Places. That
doesn't mean they are protected from demolition, but any plans to do so must
be reviewed by SHPO. The East Side Coastal Resiliency project is going
ahead this fall, with ground breaking in East River Park in November, I
think. Hopefully the buildings still can be saved."[4,5]
Apparently not: "I wanted to let you know that we've been unsuccessful in
getting the city to restore them. Plans now are to demolish them. Tomorrow
(Sunday, Nov. 14) at 2:00 pm, we are having a rally in front of the Tennis
Center Comfort Station."[8]
More views from LESPI (click to enlarge):
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References:
- NYC
Parks Department Press Release, 26 July 1939.
- Office for Metropolitan History,
Manhattan New Building (NB) Database, lists Embury as architect.
- New
York Times, 18 May 1938: "East River Driveway, between 6th and 7th Sts,
124.1x30; for 1-story field house; for 1-story comfort station; owner: same
[i.e. Department of Parks, City of New York]; architect: same [i.e. Aymar
Embury 2d].
- East River Park Track House and Tennis
Center Comfort Station Resource Evaluation, New York State Department of
Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, 18 June 2020: "Property meets
eligibility criteria. Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type,
period or method of construction; or represents the work of a master; or
possess high artistic values; or represents a significant and
distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction."
- Correspondence with Deborah Wye, Lower East Side Preservation
Initiative, 16 July 2020.
-
New Deal Park Structures Face Demolition in NYC, Deborah Wye, Living
New Deal, 28 August 2020.
- Barbara Wye, Threatened
East River Park Buildings Recognized for Architectural Distinction,
Bowery Boogie website (accessed 4 December 2020): "Two East River Park Art
Deco gems were recently deemed eligible for the State and National Registers
of Historic Places by the New York State Historic Preservation Office
(SHPO). Both the Track House near East 6th Street and the Tennis Center
Comfort Station between Rivington and Delancey Streets were recognized for
their historical significance. Based on research and an application
submitted this past winter by the Lower East Side Preservation Initiative
(LESPI), the determination means that the SHPO must review any plans to
alter the buildings, including current intentions to demolish them under the
East Side Coastal Resiliency project."
- Correspondence with Deborah Wye, Lower East Side Preservation
Initiative, 13 Novenber, 2021.