What's up at 82 University Place, the former spot --- a moment of silence, please – of my beloved Cedar Tavern? As you may or may not know, remember or care, the historic Cedar Tavern shut its hallowed doors in November of 2006, initially saying it'd only be gone for a short spell in order to accommodate the construction of a luxury condo in the precious "wasted" air space above it. I watched for weeks and weeks as the place was gradually gutted and disemboweled (though I have no idea what became of its actual bar, a splendidly carved work of art). Gradually, word came through that the Cedar Tavern was not, in fact, going to re-open and that it was basically gone for good. Construction continued in earnest and a glaring eye-sore of a building went up in the Cedar's footprint. New York City lost one of its storied landmarks so that an ugly brick sliver could be erected, exclusively for irresponsibly wealthy shitheads to live in. Hurray for progress.
The building in question, meanwhile, seems to have been largely completed for some time now, but the scaffolding's still up and the front entry remains sheathed. It seems entire empires have risen, crested and fallen in the span of time since the Cedar Tavern went missing, but things seem to have stalled at 82 University Place. Let me guess – no one's buying?
Good, let's knock it down, then.
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