On Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:26:26 -0400, Christopher A. Lee
wrote:

On Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:17:14 -0700 (PDT), E27002
wrote:

On Sep 29, 3:44*am, "Basil Jet"
wrote:
E27002 wrote:

We can be grateful that the destruction ceased when it did. *London
was saved from a horrible fate.

I have heard that the destruction of the Euston arch was instrumental in
turning public opinion against the destruction.

IIRC St Pancras was on the agenda for demolition. Sir John Betjeman
mounted a campaign for its preservation and the tide turned.

It's not well known outside New York that Jackie Kennedy mounted the
campaign to preserve Grand Central after Penn had been demolished and
replaced by Madison Square Garden with the station in the basement.

That was an act of vandalism because the station was on a par with the
best in Europe.

However, it was a major tax liability with no income so far as the
Penn Central (or was it just the Pennsylvania Railroad then). It
would have taken major work to fix all of the deferred maintenance,
probably to be presented with a bigger tax bill. Grand Central was a
good case of "You must spend money for something I want" philosophy.
If historic preservation is to succeed, then it must be economically
financed. There may well have to be tax breaks, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NYP_LOC4.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NYP_LOC5.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Penn_Station1.jpg