Today Delta began quietly demolishing the iconic Pan Am Worldport terminal just days after the National Trust for Historic Preservation listed it on the Top 11 Most Endangered Historic Buildings list.
The Worldport was scheduled to be demolished by 2015, however in an act of egregious disregard for a full public review process, demolition quietly began today.
According to NYDailyNews today:
“A construction worker was slightly injured Sunday when he was struck by falling debris during the demolition of the vacant Terminal 3 at Kennedy Airport.”
The story validates that demolition in fact began ON the Worldport building today.
On August 6, 2010, the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey and Delta Airlines announced a $1.2 Billion plan to build a PARKING LOT for Delta and to demolish the old Pan Am Worldport terminal.
The “Pan Am Terminal” was designed by Ives, Turano & Gardner Associated Architects and Walther Prokosch of Tippets-Abbett-McCarthy-Stratton in 1960 as a showcase for international jet travel, and is known worldwide for its 4-acre “flying saucer” roof, which is suspended far from the outside columns of the terminal. It is a remarkable feat of architecture and engineering alike. The terminal was originally designed to allow aircraft to park under the partial overhang, which sheltered passengers as they boarded the aircraft by stairs or by uncovered bridges. The design is a unique portrait of this moment in time and holds unprecedented value as a historic resource.
“This is the last moment of [modernist buildings] being unloved; the tide is turning,” said Roberta Lane, the National Trust’s New York-based senior field officer. “It’s painful to think we might lose this on the cusp of this time when people are starting to get it.” The Worldport is the only site in the tristate area on the group’s latest endangered list.
Please let Delta know that we will not forget or forgive this egregious act!
ACTION REQUIRED – NOW!!!
From the Save Pan Am Facebook page:
It is with great sadness that we report that it was the front elevated “departure roadway” (not runway) that caused the (thankfully) minor injury today. If you want this insanity to stop NOW before it’s too late, I suggest everyone send an email to Gail Grimmett, who is the VP of Delta’s entire New York operation and Ralph Tragale, assistant aviation director at the PANYNJ and let them know how you feel.
gail.grimmett@delta.com
rtragale@panynj.gov
And post on Delta’s FB and Twitter pages as well. Don’t be afraid to email these folks. Delta is a publicly traded company and the PANYNJ is a government agency.
The saucer still seems intact for now, though we fear the worst will surely follow within days.
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