Vote On Tennis Stadium Locked In For Oct. 7

The West Side Tennis Club will move forward with a vote on a controversial plan to sell its historic stadium for between $8.1 and $9.3 million to the Cord Meyer Development Corporation on Oct. 7.

The decision has been unchanged by a number of outside elements affecting the club, including damages sustained in the Sept. 16 storm, and the resignation of board member Roland Meier.

Meier resigned as a voting member of the board of directors last month after voicing concerns about the manner in which the proposed sale was progressing.

Meier also gave up his chairmanship of the club's tennis committee.

Club members who declined to be quoted said that Meier's resignation was designed to send a strong signal to the club itself, given the amount of power associated with the tennis chairmanship and a seat on the club's board.

Club President Ken Parker declined to comment on Meier's resignation.

Parker also said he couldn't comment on a recent informational meeting, since it was a members-only event held at the Forest Hills Gardens Community House. Parker said that the plan to move ahead with the vote was unchanged by anything that was said during the meeting.

"We're going to follow the requirements set forth in the club's constitution on the matter," Parker said.

The current proposal has the club selling the stadium and the land it sits on to the development company, who would then rehabilitate the stadium façade and replace the interior with condominiums. The final amount of the sale would be determined by the number of condo units the developer is able to build. 

The proposal must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the club's eligible members.

It's been no secret — both to club members and outside observers — that the sale of the historic tennis stadium has been a contentious issue. Many in the area feel that the building itself, once the home of the U.S. Open and site of many concerts from legendary musicians, should be revitalized and protected rather than sold off to generate revenue for the club.

Those who are in favor of the stadium's sale say it is a crumbling blight on the landscape as is, and there isn't money in the club budget to pay for needed repairs to an unused building.

During a recent tour of the facility, Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz, D-Forest Hills, said she had to wear a hard hat in the stadium because of falling debris.

Club member Christine Schott, who runs the Forest Hills Gardens blog, said that much of the membership is concerned about how club management is pushing forward at the site.

"Many of us feel that the stadium committee did not explore all other options before moving forward with this proposal," Schott said. "It's outrageous that the board signed a contract with Cord Meyer stating that they would not entertain any other offers until this was voted on. I doubt any board member would sell their house that way."

U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-Forest Hills, has even gotten involved, trying to get the U.S. Open to hold one match at the stadium a year to provide revenue and reconnect the site with its history.