West Village preservationist groups are outraged over the city’s recently announced plan to demolish and replace the beloved Tony Dapolito recreation and aquatic center.
Opponents of the proposed project claim that the landmarked structure — which opened in 1908 and features an iconic mural by the artist Keith Haring — has been subject to years of neglect by the city and was shuttered in 2019 due to the disrepair.
Now, city officials with the parks department and the mayor’s office have introduced a new solution for the aging building — which involves tearing it down to make way for a brand new complex — and finding space for the mural in the renovated property.
Andrew Berman, executive director of Village Preservation, an advocacy group leading the charge to restore the space, called the new proposal “outrageous”.
“I don’t know who the mayor thinks he is serving or pleasing with this demolition plan, but it’s not the people of Lower Manhattan, and it’s not the people of the city of New York,” Berman contested.
The supposed fate of the Dapolito building is part of a massive, $164 million project spanning over 100,000 square feet to re-vamp the Clarkson street corridor. The renderings hinge on demolishing the old center and erecting a brand new outdoor aquatics complex in its place.
The blueprint also includes enhanced green space and an indoor recreation center at 388 Hudson street, which is undeveloped.
“It is of course, welcome that the NYC Parks Department is pursuing much-needed renovations along the Clarkson Street corridor,” said Sommer Omar, a community organizer fighting to restore the Dapolito Center. She argued though, the plan shouldn’t center on demolishing the historic structure.
“We should be safeguarding all of our public spaces, not forcing communities to sacrifice one for the sake of another,” she said.
In April, advocates were allowed to scope out the deteriorating building for themselves, and confirmed alongside inspectors that it could be salvaged with proper procedure.
“There is nothing, nothing in that building that is beyond repair,” Berman insisted.
To further the frustration – at a Community Board meeting Wednesday evening, Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa revealed that $120 million had already been allocated to the building’s restoration – but the city hadn’t taken actionable steps to begin the process.
Despite the challenges ahead, Berman and his coalition of neighbors and preservationists are, ready to put up a fight, he says.
The group secured landmark status for the property 15 years ago, which means the city can’t demolish it without approval from the Landmark Preservation Commission.
“Now, that commission is appointed and controlled by the mayor, so he’s got his thumb on the scale there, but we will fight him every step of the way there,” he said.
The Mayor’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
A spokesperson for parks department said of the preservation process,
“We understand the deep historical and emotional significance of the Tony Dapolito Center to the community. That’s why the City is committed to honoring the site’s legacy while delivering new, accessible, and future-ready recreational resources.
As part of the Clarkson Street Corridor initiative, we are investing in a reimagined outdoor pool and pool house at the current Tony Dapolito site. This includes preserving the iconic Keith Haring mural and expanding recreational offerings with a new, fully accessible indoor recreation center to be built nearby at 388 Hudson Street.”
