Source: Parkertowers.com
June 14, 2017 By Jason Cohen
Parker Towers, the large 1960s development sandwiched between Queens Blvd and Yellowstone Boulevard, has long been known for the giant fountain in the middle of the courtyard.
The fountain has traditionally been a focal point since it is surrounded by the three 22-story high-rises that make up the complex.
The fountain, however, is now being demolished. According to a spokesman for the Parker Towers, the demolition began yesterday and will be complete in two weeks.
The plan is to replace it with greenspace. Construction will begin in a few weeks and is estimated to be finished in a few months.
However, according to local historian and Forest Hills resident Michael Perlman, residents are not pleased with this decision and neither is he.
“I feel that Parker Towers is engaging in a short-sighted decision to remove the fountain, which is a work of art and offers a tranquil feel among building facades that are mostly banal,” Perlman said.
“This is part of the history of our neighborhood, and when Parker Towers was completed, the complex was considered an achievement in urban planning. The management should have revised their plans and preserved and restored the fountain. It was a beacon not only for Parker Towers, but for our neighborhood, and offered an appealing, mid-century modern presence from Queens Boulevard.”
DNAinfo was first to report this story.
Featured Events
