If the equation seems a bit arcane, so is the problem—recyling an iconic and historic building to both be useful (make money) and still be itself. JetBlue and its hotel partner MCR, think they can do it, and it seems the Port Authority, which operates JFK agrees. The deal isn’t done, but the buzz is that it’s close.
The old TWA terminal at JFK is a landmark—inside and out. Designed by Eero Saarinen in 1960 to both welcome and symbolize the jetliner age, its success outran it; it was soon too small, and even with added concourses, it closed in 2001. Proposals have come and gone, but with a wave of airport hotel-building and airline-hotel partnerships, this may be the one.
The plan would be to use the landmarked building, which is adjacent to JetBlue’s terminal, as the lobby and public spaces of the hotel, connected to two towers that would hold 500 guest rooms. Real-estate industry resource curbed.com has DETAILS. And, there’s an interesting Wikipedia ARTICLE on the terminal itself.
Photo: Wikipedia / Dmitry Avdeev
