Top of the Rock - Observation Deck atop GE Building in Rockefeller Center

[NYguy]

DAILY NEWS...

Rock to reopen roof deck
Empire State Building to get rival by Yule '05

By LORE CROGHAN

Coming soon to midtown Manhattan - the battle of the observation decks, a faceoff between the famed tourist draw atop the Empire State Building and a fancy Art Deco deck at Rockefeller Center that's been closed for 17 years.

And to mix it up further, the new owner of another famous landmark, the General Motors Building, is thinking about opening an observation center on the roof of his skyscraper.

Rock Center landlord Tishman Speyer Properties plans to reopen the decks on the 69th and 70th floors of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The tower, housing the studios of NBC, overlooks the skating rink at the landmarked office complex.

"We think we will be able to compete with the Empire State Building," said Robert J. Speyer, who's in charge of the renovation. "We have a strategic advantage because we have a tourist base that already comes to Rockefeller Center."

Speyer plans to restore the observation sites to their original beauty and add modern safety features like a transparent glass railing through which photos can be taken. Originally opened in 1933, the levels were built to look like the decks of cruise ships, and even had deck chairs.

Word of Speyer's plans provoked a feisty response from owners of the Empire State Building, whose 86th-floor observation deck drew 3.4 million visitors last year.

"Should the Rock Center observatory reopen, it will provide an excellent opportunity to view the world's greatest building, the Empire State Building," said a spokesman for the property. "Because of its substantially lower height and less central location, Rock Center will not offer a view anywhere near comparable to the one from the Empire State Building's observatory."

The Empire State Building also is threatened by possible competition from Harry Macklowe, who recently bought the GM Building for $1.4 billon. Sources said an observation deck is on his list of new ways to generate revenue at the building at 767 Fifth Ave., which has stellar views of Central Park across the street.

As for Rock Center's decks, they, too, have killer views of Central Park, plus the Hudson River, Times Square and the Chrysler Building. The landlord expects they'll make money.

"This is a smart business proposition," Speyer said.

He hasn't decided yet how much to charge visitors for tickets because the decks won't reopen for another two years - in time for the lighting of the Christmas tree downstairs in 2005.

Before the project can get under way, it needs the approval of the city Landmarks Preservation Commission. As a first step in the process, the proposal is scheduled for discussion at a Community Board 5 meeting on Thursday.

The landmarks commission will hold a hearing late this month or in early December.


View from past: Visitors to Rockefeller observation deck shortly after its 1933 opening.

[NYguy]

NY Times...

Repairs and Reopening Planned for a Rockefeller Center Roof

By ANDREA ELLIOTT

Seventeen years after Rockefeller Center closed the historic observation decks atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza, developers plan to renovate the space and reopen it to the public, pending city approval.

The decks, which first opened to sightseers in 1933, rise as high as 850 feet above street level, offering panoramic views from the top two floors of the Art Deco building known as the RCA and more recently the G.E. Building. They were closed in 1986 when expansion of the Rainbow Room on the 65th floor cut off elevator access to them.

"This was one of the great attractions of Rockefeller Center historically," said Robert J. Speyer, senior managing director of Tishman Speyer Properties, one of the center's owners. "It ought to be restored and reopened for the world to see."

If approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, the project would be scheduled for completion in fall 2005, Mr. Speyer said. He would not comment on the cost of the project. A public hearing before the commission is set for Nov. 25.

"The whole thing is very exciting," said Robert B. Tierney, chairman of the commission. "Rockefeller Center is such a gem and has such historical significance that we will look at this very, very carefully."

Because the building is a historic landmark — one of about 1,200 in the city — any plan to renovate it must be found appropriate by the commission, Mr. Tierney said.

"We look at the history of the landmark, the aesthetics," he said. "All kinds of factors come into play."

The proposal calls for a ground-floor entrance on West 50th Street. Elevators would lead to the 67th floor, which would feature a combination of food and retail services, and an observation deck encased by windows, Mr. Speyer said.

From there, visitors would be able to take escalators to the open-air observation deck on the 69th floor, where they would be greeted with views of Central Park. They would then be able to climb the stairs or take an elevator up a floor to another open deck for a 360-degree view that includes the Empire State Building, Times Square and the Hudson River.

The renovation plan includes restoring decorative limestone and cast aluminum fleur-de-lis panels, and installing new terra cotta tiles on some floors in the same size and color as the original tiles.

In recent years, the 67th floor was used as storage space, and the uppermost part of the building was closed.

"We are set to restore it back to its original use," Mr. Speyer said. "When you take over a landmark like Rockefeller Center, you want to strike a balance between restoration and innovation, and we think this plan threads that needle."

[NYatKNIGHT]

Yay! Our unparalleled rooftop views are one of the city's biggest assets, mostly untapped. Hopefully this is the just the first of more lofty perches for us to enjoy.

[professionalx]

This is good. In the early 80's I took visiting family on roof deck tour of the City - started with the roof of my Columbia dorm, then Riverside Church, the (then) RCA Bldg, Empire State and finishing up at WTC. RCA was voted favorite. (My father thought WTC swayed too much!)

Are there any other high-up viewpoints open in the city today besides ESB?

[Gulcrapek]

I'll be there!

This is candy! :shock:

[DougGold]

This is incredible! I've been disappointed with the few options for high-rise observation decks, so this is a dream come true. Plus, I laughed out loud at the response by the ESB's management! Very snappy come-back.

[TLOZ Link5]

And the GM Building, also!

Now if CMP could reopen its observation deck, hopefully on the top floor and on the roof. It's centrally located in the Financial District and would offer great views.

The GE Building has wonderful views regardless. More of Central Park and uptown, right in the heart of Midtown.

[Merry]

It would be really nice if the the observation gallery in the AIG Building (70 Pine) could be re-opened to the public. It's a very classy Art Deco gem with excellent views in every direction. Apparently plans for the City Bank Farmer's Trust Building (20 Exchange Place) included a 57th floor observation floor, which would have been equally alluring. And not to forget 40 Wall Street with former observation rooms in the pyramid on the 69th and 70th floors.

[fioco]

TLOZ, I was unaware that CMP (Chase Manhattan Plaza) had an observation deck. In the late 80's I worked in the upper floors of that bldg. as a temp -- a paralegal on the Midnight to Morning shift. If important papers arrived from London then I was the gofer to place the distribution on each attorney's desk or chair. The views from their offices were mesmerizing, like Dorothy seeing OZ for the first time.

The unobstructed night-time view of Midtown reached from the Hudson to the East River and beyond. The bridges were like shimmering strands of greenish light connecting the boroughs across black voids. Manhattan could open serveral observation decks and have no difficulty finding tourists and skyline enthusiasts willing to pony up and pay.

[TLOZ Link5]

CMP very much had an observation deck, but obviously it became obsolete when the WTC was finished. It was operational in the '60s; I was at my grandparents' house last Christmas, leafing through their old books, and I found a brochure about New York from the '60s. CMP's observation deck was featured.

[JMGarcia]

I believe the obs deck at Chase was made into a corporate meetings area with a company restaurant for executives.

[TLOZ Link5]

Originally Posted by JMGarcia

I believe the obs deck at Chase was made into a corporate meetings area with a company restaurant for executives.

That's right. I doubt that it can be reopened as an observation deck, but consider the possibilities!

[Edward]

The GE observation deck will be a serious competitor to ESB observation deck - the view of the Empire State is truly awe-inspiring.


The Empire State Building in blue and green colors on the occasion of 110th Anniversary of the National Council of Jewish Women. The view from the 64th floor of the GE Building.

[DougGold]

I wonder if FAO's tanking will speed up the decision to reopen GM's observation deck. They may need the added income, no?

[Moe14]

Does 60 Wall have an observation deck of any sort?