Latest news with #FireMuseum
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NYC Fire Museum in danger of shutting down for good after $6M Disney construction damage
Mickey Mouse shut down the city's Fire Museum — and it may need to wish upon a star to ever open again. Construction on Disney's new, 22-story New York City headquarters at Hudson Street caused what the city said was nearly $6 million in 'significant structural damage' to the neighboring Spring Street museum, forcing it to close for nearly a year. The museum opened in 1987 and operates out of an historic, 120-year-old firehouse once used by Engine Co. 30. It features 30,000 artifacts stretching back to the days of the bucket brigade, along with a memorial to the 343 NYC firefighters killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. 'Excessive vibrations' from the work last May were the nail in the coffin for the historic Beaux-Arts building, prompting an emergency evacuation, according to the Manhattan Supreme Court filing by the city. Terrified staff preparing to open for a day that included a birthday party for 30 kids called executive director Patti Murphy in a panic. 'They said they heard a loud banging, the building started to shake and then they said to me the floor felt soft,' Murphy recalled to The Post. The frightening incident forced the building to shut down to visitors for 11 months — leaving the institution in crisis, Murphy said. Murphy said the museum plans to launch a public fundraising effort in the upcoming weeks. 'We need immediate support,' said Murphy. 'We're a very small nonprofit, we're a self-sustaining organization so our operations are pretty much in a dire position because we've been closed so long,' she added. The Museum took in about $571,000 in fiscal year 2023-2024, far short of its target of more than $772,000, it said in its annual report. At the moment, the building is 'structurally sound and stable,' but only a small number of staff is permitted inside on a limited basis and visitors are not allowed, Murphy said. The city intends to sue Hudson Square Realty and construction companies Skanska Inc. and Lendlease US Construction Inc. over the allegedly 'negligent' work, according to papers filed March 28. Murphy's been trying to figure out how to preserve and safeguard the museum's collection — which includes everything from a 1901 La France coal-fired steam engine to firefighting tools like the Jaws of Life — during a hoped-for remediation of the building, but has no timeline for when the work can get done or when the museum can reopen. 'That in and of itself is very costly and complicated,' she said of preparing the collection. 'We're so small that we don't readily have the resources and subject matter, the expertise to undertake something like this.' The closure couldn't have come at a worse time, Murphy said, since she expected the sparkling new Disney building, which opened in December, to bring more people to the museum. 'We're really hopeful that we're going to be working toward an amicable resolution,' she said. 'There's a lot of excitement about them being in Hudson Square.' Disney, which plunked down $650 million in 2018 for the Hudson Square property, bragged about its 1.2 million-square-foot headquarters, calling the building 'a collaborative town square in the bustling city.' 'Construction work at the site of the new Disney HQ caused damage to the FDNYs historic building, which is home to the NYC Fire Museum,' a city Law Department spokesman said in a statement. 'This filing protects the City's rights while we work with Disney and its insurers to determine whether we can resolve this matter without further litigation.' A Disney spokesperson said the company has been working with the city 'to address any damage that may have been caused,' adding, 'we understand this filing was simply part of a legal process to ensure those conversations can continue.' Skanska had concluded its work on the project in summer 2020, a spokesman said. Lendlease and Hudson Square Realty did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Axios
24-03-2025
- Axios
South Coast Rail unlocked: Daytrip to New Bedford and Fall River
The South Coast Rail launches today, connecting New Bedford and Fall River to the state's Commuter Rail system. And, for now, it's free. Why it matters: The extension connects the southeastern cities to Boston for the first time in 65 years, and unlocks the region for Bostonians looking for a day trip. The latest: South Coast fares will be free through the end of March and on weekends in April, as well as Patriots' Day on April 21. Plus: Commuter Rail parking at one of the six South Coast station lots will be free between today and April 30 (though you'll have to pay if the parking lots are full). Pro tip: Stick to the New Bedford and Fall River stops. Skip the East Taunton, Freetown and Church Street stops unless you want to hail a ride to nearby hiking trails. New Bedford 🐋 For the history buffs: Visit the Whaling Museum. It gives you a window into the massive industry that shaped the city throughout the 18th and 19th centuries and the legacy that endures today. There's also the Fire Museum, Art Museum and, for the architecture nerds, the Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum. Assembly Row Park has a statue of Frederick Douglass, who built a new life as a free man in New Bedford. (He lived on Elm Street, but his house is long gone.) 🏖️ For a beach day: The New Bedford stop is a 10-minute ride to East Beach near Fort Taber Park. A 20-minute ride gets you to West Island Town Beach in Fairhaven, which is the next town over. 👟 For scenic views: Check out the Harbor Walk, a pedestrian and bike path in the South End alongside the city's massive hurricane barrier. Watch the walkway light up after sunset. 🦞 Where to eat: The Black Whale for the bacon-wrapped scallops and lobster rolls. Fall River 🪓 The most high-profile landmark may be the home of Lizzie Borden, who was acquitted of murdering her parents with an axe. It's a museum and bed and breakfast. Some less gory options: Battleship Cove, which houses five historic U.S. naval ships and other watercraft, and the Children's Museum.
