NYC has not been bereft of exciting architecture over the past decade -- from “phase two of the High Line or the careful design incisions into the Lincoln Center public spaces” to "the new Weiss Manfredi Visitors Center at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the newly uncovered DS+R bridge across 65th street at Lincoln Center, and of course SHoP Architect's Barclay's Center," highlights Menking. He makes the argument, however, that this has changed in recent years due to the economic downtown. Alas, according to Menking, “[n]ow the most exciting architectural ideas seem to be back on gallery walls and not the streets and our best local architects are not building here but in China and other booming economies.”
Menking affirms that this change is not due to a lack of architectural talent or creativity, but rather to the economic situation in the city. “Our architects have no end of ideas about how to keep growing and changing New York for the better—the Low Line and additions to Brooklyn Bridge Park and Governors Island are only a few examples,” he asserts, adding “but will we have the will and money to make them happen?” For Menking, “now more than ever”, politicians need to do their part to bring architectural creativity to fruition via “political will and tax revenues." Menking pens a final call to action: “Lets hope we can bring some of the ideas off the walls and onto the streets of the city.”
