(Photo: Michael Garofalo)
The long redesign of Cooper Square and Astor Place is finally nearing completion– knock on wood. This morning, landscapers worked to plant dozens of new trees around the square. We’re told that in total about 55 trees—oaks, sweetgums, and blackgums—will be planted over the next few days, bringing some much needed greenery to the area.
(Photo: @AstorPlaceNYC)
When the Astor Alive! Festival kicks off Friday, there’ll be a workshop on how to make spinning cubes, a parade featuring the lil’ cubes, and a “cube sticker slam.” But it looks like one thing will be missing: the actual Astor Place cube. The Village Alliance, which is throwing the fest to celebrate the redesign of Astor Place and Cooper Square, had expected the Alamo to make a triumphant return in time for the fest. But today a spokesperson at the city’s Department of Design and Construction tells us that “due to unforeseen logistical issues the scheduled return of the Alamo has been postponed.”
(Photo: @AstorPlaceNYC)
Last month, the city’s Department of Design and Construction told us the Astor Place cube was set to return in June. Today was supposed to be the big day, according to a construction update noticed by EV Grieve. But alas, the newly redesigned Alamo Plaza is still as cube-less as a sad cup of iced coffee left out in the sun too long. The city now says it won’t happen till August.
A DDC rep told us today that the cube was “awaiting final inspection by the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. Once completed, it will be delivered and re-installed.” A spokesperson for the Parks Department, which has traditionally been involved in the upkeep of Tony Rosenthal’s beloved sculpture, added, “The City is looking forward to an installation of the Cube in August. The Cube must first be inspected by a conservator.”