Blog: Times Square

42nd Street between Dyer and 10th Avenues used to be home to the Houseman Theater, the Fairbanks Theater, several small studio theaters, and The Tank. The block was eventually bought by Bloomberg administration buddies The Related Companies, the theaters, diner, and other businesses kicked out, and the structures torn down.

This was all expected and anticipated for years. But the real insult was when Related announced that they hoped to qualify for the "theater bonus," which allowed taller buildings than normal in that neighborhood for developers who included theaters in their buildings, by creating a permanent home for Cirque de Soleil... a very far cry from the kind of off-Broadway arts spaces the law was designed to encourage. Neighborhood activists and elected officials protested, but the Department of City Planning was the one to decide, and the Department of City Planning is overseen by Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff, who has repeatedly arranged sweetheart deals for Related.

Today, however, the Times reported that DCP actually denied the petition. We still don't know what Related will build on the site (perhaps they should consider creating a permanent home for The Tank instead) but at least the former home of an innovative space for emerging performing and visual artists won't be succeeded by a circus.