Opponents filed claim 31 months too late. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, which leases the land in Central Park from Parks under an 1871 directive of the state legislature, proposed to renovate the museum in 2000 and presented a detailed plan to Parks and Landmarks. The plan called for a new loading dock, the addition of public cafeterias and new auditoriums. Parks Commissioner Henry Stern signed off on the plan in December 2002, noting that the proposal would not expand the museum beyond its existing footprint, and Landmarks approved in early 2001. Due to September 11th, the Museum scaled back its plans, reducing the proposed addition from 200,000 to 40,000 sq.ft. and abandoning the loading dock plan.

After the Museum started work, the Metropolitan Museum Historic District Coalition, a group of Upper East Side residents concerned about the renovation’s potential traffic, pollution and safety problems, sent a letter to the Museum and the City, complaining that the Museum’s renovation work violated a long-standing commitment against expansion onto additional Parks land. The Museum responded by letter in July of 2003. (read more…)