Greenwich Village's Tony Dapolito rec center is slated for demolition, a move that has been labeled 'outrageous' by preservationists within the city.
Controversy Surrounds Proposed Demolition of Tony Dapolito Recreation Center
The Tony Dapolito Recreation Center in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, is currently slated for demolition as part of a $164 million revitalization plan for the Clarkson Street corridor. The city's plans have faced strong opposition from preservationists and community groups who want the building preserved and restored [1][2][4].
The city's 2026 budget agreement does not include funding to save or restore the building, nor does it commit to preserving any significant portion of the structure. This lack of preservation commitment has been criticized by community advocates, though City Council member Erik Bottcher has urged the Mayor to consider options retaining the building’s facades and historical interior features [1].
The city intends to honor the site's history by preserving Keith Haring’s iconic mural inside and potentially reusing elements of the building’s exterior along Seventh Avenue and Clarkson Street. However, the center itself will be demolished and replaced with a modern outdoor pool complex. A separate indoor recreation facility is planned across the street at 388 Hudson St., within a new affordable housing development [2].
The demolition process has been criticized by preservationists who say the city is disregarding years of community opposition. Village Preservation, which has led the campaign to save the building, described the newly unveiled proposal as "outrageous" [3]. Andrew Berman, executive director of Village Preservation, has stated that the plan reflects how "tone deaf and removed from reality" the Mayor has become [3].
Village Preservation and over 40 organizations penned a July 22 letter urging the Mayor to restore the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center, stating their concerns about the independence of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, as LPC members are appointed by the Mayor, which may simply do his bidding [1]. The Community Board 2 Parks Committee was presented with the plans for the recreation center during a meeting on Tuesday night [2].
City officials stated that it is still "early days" in the process and that planners are continuing to explore which parts of the 2010-designated landmark could be preserved or reused. The city has not yet submitted an application to the Landmarks Preservation Commission [2]. Village Preservation intends to oppose the proposal "every step of the way" until the building is restored and reopened [3].
The city has launched an online public input portal to gather feedback on recreational programming, but Village Preservation criticized the process for omitting restoration of the building as an option [2]. The groups described the facility as much-beloved and landmarked, arguing that its deterioration was due to years of deferred maintenance and neglect [1].
In summary, despite being a landmarked building, the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center faces imminent demolition under current city plans, with restoration efforts and historic preservation advocates continuing to oppose this approach without success as of August 2025 [1][2][4].
Despite the ongoing controversy and strong opposition from preservationists and community groups, the city's current budget does not allocate funds for the restoration of the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center. Instead, there are plans to invest in real-estate development, including a modern outdoor pool complex and an indoor recreation facility, as part of the $164 million revitalization plan for the Clarkson Street corridor.
The city's intentions to honor the site's history by preserving Keith Haring's mural and potentially reusing elements of the building's exterior do not satisfy the advocates who argue for the importance of financing and investing in the preservation and restoration of the entire building.
