The Mamdani administration is brazenly pushing plans that could ruin a priceless Keith Haring mural in the West Village — despite the new mayor having previously blasted the project while a candidate, foes say.
The beloved 116-year-old Tom Dapolito Recreation Center in Manhattan was set to be repaired with $120 million in allocated city funding starting in 2021.
But those plans were walked back by the previous Adams administration when the site was deemed too far gone, and it was proposed that the site possibly be razed and a new recreation complex be built in its place.
Then-mayoral candidate Mamdani denounced Adams’ move during an October town hall, alleging they had reversed a “commitment that had been made.
“How can someone who was so excited about that more than $100 million commitment, about honoring the legacy of someone who fought for these very neighborhoods, how can that person continue to believe in democracy if this is their experience?” Mamdani said at the time.
“It’s quite clear to me that the important thing to do here is not just to fulfill the promises you have made, but also do your best to fulfill the promises that have been made prior to you,” he added, urging the former mayor to “follow through on this commitment.”
But Hizzoner now appears to be inexplicably keeping in line with Adams’ plan of possibly razing the site and rebuilding completely.
City reps touted the past administration’s plans for a 335-foot-tall development — complete with a “recreational, cultural and fitness hub” with a pool — during a community board meeting last week.
The complex, dubbed Hudson Mosaic, “is premised on the notification that the old center will be demolished,” lamented Andrew Berman, executive director of the architectural advocacy group Village Preservation, to The Post.
“It was a bit unnerving to see the plan move forward unchanged.’’
Multiple Post requests for comment from City Hall were not returned.
Summer Omar, founder of the Coalition to Save the Public Recreation Center Downtown, told The Post that despite hearing mum from Mam, “We’re still in a place of being hopeful and optimistic that what they’re planning on and working on are repair plans for the rec center.
“It’s consistent with what he campaigned on,” she said.
“He made a campaign commitment … and they still have this window of opportunity to implement that process.”
City Parks Department officials told The Post late last year that the Dapolito Center will be demolished and converted into a “reimagined outdoor pool and pool house” as part of a massive affordable housing project and that the 18-foot mural painted by iconic late street artist Haring will stay in its current home.
“This plan keeps the wall that the Haring mural is situated on in place, and includes restoration of the mural,” a rep from the Keith Haring Foundation told The Post this past week.
But Berman said it’s still “unclear” if the 1987 mural will be properly secured during demolition, as the Adams administration previously indicated it would demolish the wall the mural sits on and place the art on an entirely new slab.
“It’s unclear to us how it would work –- if the wall is in fact being demolished and rebuilt,” Berman said. “There were not enough details to say we are comfortable with that.”
The advocate added that a glimmer of hope in the fight for preservation is the empty City Council seat that reps the area because of former Councilman Erik Bottcher’s move to the state Senate.
Each candidate has since shown support for the preservation and “will be demanding concrete answers” after the April 28 special election, Berman said.
“It’s only been two to three months of the Mamdani administration,” he said. “We’re still hopeful that the administration will keep its word in terms of restoration of the center.”