Standing Up for the Brooklyn Bridge

David McCullough's Newsweek essay ponders the negative effects of a proposed development on the majestic Brooklyn Bridge's image.

1 minute read

April 30, 2009, 11:00 AM PDT

By Judy Chang

"Would we wish to see an 18-story building go up beside the Statue of Liberty, or next to Independence Hall in Philadelphia, or beside the Washington Monument? Of course not.

Would the city of Paris permit an 18-story building beside the Arc de Triomphe or Notre Dame? Unthinkable.

Citizens groups in Brooklyn have rallied in a spirited campaign to stop the project. To date, more than 12,000 signatures have been collected in protest. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has taken a strong public stand. 'No new structure should be permitted to crowd or upstage the Brooklyn Bridge,' says Richard Moe, the head of the trust. 'This is a matter of importance not just to New York and Brooklyn, but for all who care about our national treasures.'"

FULL STORY: A Masterpiece in Jeopardy

Saturday, April 18, 2009 in Newsweek

Architecture History / Preservation Infrastructure Technology Urban Development New York Brooklyn Bridge View More

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