McCarren Pool Plans Renderings & Full Reveal

We finally got our hands yesterday on some high quality renderings of the Rogers Marvel plan for McCarren Pool in Greenpoint/Williamsburg and posted them on Curbed. (Full slide show below.) The renderings came with the caveat that they are "drafts" and the reminder that, of course, the Landmarks Preservation Commission has to sign off on any alterations to the landmarked structure. The renderings come in summer and winter versions, showing the pool version in the summer (along with the concrete peninsula that would jut into part of the pool) and the ice skating rink of the summer. There are also some diagrams below of what would be inside the existing buildings. It's worth noting that even though the pool would only cover about 70 percent of the old one, it would still be immense in size, given that the original was huge. About two-thirds of the pool would be a wading pool and one-third would be a deeper lap pool. In addition, the diving pool would be restored with a 12 1/2 foot diving platform added. Money has already been allocated for the jobs and the plan is to start work by the end of the year once all the approvals are in place. Jotham Sederstrom has a story on the new plan in today's Daily News.

GL Analysis
Having seen the pool deteriorate and make a superb photo of urban rot and having stood on the blazing concrete floor of the pool in summer and dreamed of water, we are, frankly, almost giddy that McCarren Pool will be a pool again. We will leave aside the discussion about motivations and demographics and won't get into specific details or things that could be tweaked. The pool will be an amenity for the entire community and will have a capacity of 1,400 people. That is a wonderful thing.