Efforts to Save Historic Forest Hills Stadium Continuing

With about a week away before the vote on the future of the Tennis Stadium (it is scheduled for Sept. 23rd), I am reprinting the latest letter from Michael Perlman, chairman of the Rego-Forest Preservation Council, to Robert B. Tierney, Chair of the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission:

Dear Chairman Tierney, Ms. Betts, & LPC Staff,

I am writing on behalf of Rego-Forest Preservation Council, and also in response to a coalition of organizational and individual supporters nationally, who feel strongly that the historic Forest Hills Tennis Stadium and Clubhouse of the West Side Tennis Club complex should be calendared for a public hearing ASAP, and ultimately landmarked for current and future generations to cherish.

I spoke with Jennifer Fernandez last week, who explained that the Landmarks Preservation Commission needs to conduct some additional research, prior to making a decision of calendaring the iconic complex. I then explained, that in response to my 50-page documentation complementing my 7/23/10 RFE form, as Chair of Rego-Forest Preservation Council, we would be happy to provide any additional research at the request of the LPC, as well as provide research we voluntarily come across.

As promised, I am sending an updated compilation of photos uploaded to our flickr photoset for the LPC’s assessment, as well as our flickr gallery featuring a skillful photographer who also requests the icon’s preservation. They contain recent photos of the facade from the streetscape, facade and grandstands from the field, views from the top of the grandstands, and photos of the Clubhouse. In addition, they contain historic photos and postcards of the Stadium, the Clubhouse, and a plethora of other tennis and music-related memorabilia. Please refer to the following 3 links:

Rego-Forest Preservation Council Photoset featuring Stadium, Clubhouse, Memorabilia –
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8095451@N08/sets/72157607136282297/

Iconic Forest Hills Tennis Stadium: Gallery 1 featuring Joe Shlabotnik/Peter Dutton’s photos –
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8095451@N08/galleries/72157624960334088

Iconic Forest Hills Tennis Stadium: Gallery 2 featuring Joe Shlabotnik/Peter Dutton’s photos –
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8095451@N08/galleries/72157624960580042/

The above communicates measures of its international history that Forest Hills and our city is so fortunate to have, and also illustrates an architectural first by a famed architect, Kenneth Murchison (Forest Hills Tennis Stadium), and another famed architect, Grosvenor Atterbury (Clubhouse). If you decide to feature any of these photos in a press release or a report, please let us know, and grant credit to the appropriate parties. Thank you for your consideration!

Sincerely,

Michael Perlman

Rego-Forest Preservation Council, Chair (Rego Park & Forest Hills)

http://regoforestpreservation.blogspot.com/

Four Borough Preservation Alliance Corp, Queens VP

Queens Preservation Council, Bd. of Dir.

Central Queens Historical Association, Bd. of Dir.

Friends of The Ridgewood Theatre, Chair

Friends of The RKO Keith’s Flushing Theatre, Member

Committee To Save The Forum Diner/Cheyenne Diner/Moondance Diner, Chair

unlockthevault@hotmail.com