Huntington Hartford Museum

Real Estate Weekly, March 15, 2000 by Lois Weiss

As we predicted in February, the city has once again issued an RFP for the redevelopment of Two Columbus Circle, the former Huntington Hartford Museum that's been empty since the city's Cultural Affairs and Convention and Visitors Center offices moved to make way for a new incarnation after the last RFP was issued in 1996.

When that came out, the administration hoped a new building would take the place of the "love it or leave it" white marble Edward Durrell Stone-designed edifice, which evokes "lollipop" and "porthole" window descriptions. Among those that hoped to knock it down were Abe Hirschfeld and Donald J. Trump, who wanted to build apartments and hotel condos, respectively. The Dahesh Museum longed to keep it up to use its galleries to show off its European art collection.

Fast forward through the awarding of Columbus Centre to related/Himmel/-Apollo, Mayor Rudy's dismay at the outcry over Trump World Tower, and the two cents put in by Stone's son, who wants the building to remain, and Cultural Affairs Commish Schuyler G. Chapin, who suggested the building as a city-owned museum for the Alexander Calder works - long after the RFP had come and gone.

"It's not designed to do anything but be a museum," Chapin told us.

Chapin had sent Calder officials to visit the site. He said, "They were very excited but aware they would have to pony up a large of amount of money towards a restoration." Since Chapin had been suggesting the city maintain ownership of the building but work out a lease with the Calder Foundation, with the issuance of the new RFP for the sale of the property, he feels, "The question of whether or not that will happen is moot."

The new RFP, he says, is seeking "a proposal that would relieve the city of the burden of maintaining the structure." It doesn't rule out keeping the white box, but advises any new building should echo the Circle's geometry, have masonry compatible with buildings along Central Park "granite, brick, etc.," and have a solid to non-reflective glass only please ratio of 50 percent.

"We've made it very clear to the EDC that we would love to see the Calder Foundation there or another cultural institution," said Chapin. He is particularly enamored of having it be devoted to the Calder works, as it would be seeded by the late-artist's own collection, and because of the "uniqueness" of the work. "It would be an unusual and a rich new resource for the city." The Commission has turned over its suggestions to the EDC, but Chapin admits, "It's really something that is up to EDC."

"I'd like to see it as a museum from a personal standpoint," the Commissioner continues. "But I'm not responsible for city income. I'm responsible for spending taxpayer's money in support of cultural activities."

Donald J. Trump said he won't be putting in a proposal for this site, adding, "It's hard when you've done Trump International Hotel and Tower to do something that small."

A site visit takes place on Tuesday, March 21 at 10 a.m.., with a submission deadline of May 21 at 2p.m.