The Cube Has Returned
The Alamo Cube has finally returned to Astor place plaza. The plaza, renamed in honor of the Cube to the “Alamo Plaza,” was rebuilt and expanded in a multi-year, 16 million dollar revamp of streets in are around central NoHo. The years worth of delays has frustrated many, especially local residents, business owners and members of the GCS community, who have had to deal with seemingly endless noise, sidewalk closures and traffic disruptions.
The Cube, for its lot, has been sitting in New Jersey since it was boxed up back in 2015. While there the cube underwent an 180,000 dollar renovation and rust removal. The fact that the city has spent so much money and effort maintaining a 50 year old and originally temporary sculpture is remarkable, and goes to show that despite the city government’s incompetence (i.e. the renovation of the plazas being five years late) they at least have an ear out for the wants of the general public.
The return of the Cube, along with the placement of the last trees (55 in total!) and the filling of the planters, has finally given a sense of completion to the long time ripped up construction sight that occupied the central portion of our neighborhood for years. The concrete in the sidewalks has set, the roads have been repaved, reinforced and repainted, new paths, tables and seating now dot the once pedestrian unfriendly urban space.
Soon the Cube will be spinning as it did in the days of yore. Things are looking up for Astor Place and Cooper Square.