saving the worldport
by Cloudhopper767 [from www.savetheworldport.org]
Published on 11 May 2013
0:14 “Kristine Johnson” a familiar piece of New York aviation history
0:19 is about to face the wrecking ball
0:21 CBS news Lou Young has more from JFK Airport on a fight to save the old Pan American Worldport
0:30 “SAVING THE WORLDPORT” JFK terminal 3 is now in its final two weeks of active life
0:32 Delta Airlines is moving out and tearing it down
0:36 for some that’s just the way things are
0:39 its progress you gotta move forward
0:41 but the place has a rich history once known as Worldport
0:43 it was PanAm New York hub at a time when flying was exciting and glamorous
0:47 some are trying to save it from the wrecking ball even as they marvel at the design
0:51 that seems to promise a future that never was
0:54 “Glen Weaver, Air Traveler” starship enterprise
0:55 looks like a spaceship it’s going to take off
0:59 the fight is really over that circular roof
1:00 is four acres large and called the flying saucer
1:03 originally jets would nose right up to the gate and passengers will be
1:07 sheltered from the elements getting on and of the planes on those portable stairways
1:12 preservationists say that at least like to save that
1:14 but the port authority seems to think it’s not worth the trouble
1:17 this building opens on May 24th 1960 fifty-three years to the day its gonna close
1:23 the buildings has been denied official landmark status because renovations
1:27 has moved it too far from its original design as a result
1:30 Worldport what does not have the same protection as TWA’s sleek old Flight Center
1:35 which stands empty but preserved a short distance away
1:37 a Port Authority spokesperson told us
1:40 “Demolition Plan: RON MARSICO, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey” Unfortunately JFK is a land-constrained airport and the space, where Worldport is will be needed for other aviation uses
1:48 the real problem is that Delta Airlines
1:50 wants the space because of the new terminal next door
1:52 they want the space to park their aircraft
1:54 Delta’s plans include keeping the far less impressive Terminal 2
1:58 the preservationists say they’ll make a last appeal to the Port Authority
2:01 at its public meeting later this month
2:05 we are JFK New York Lou Young CBS Two News
2:06 well taking the Worldport down won’t be an easy job that giant circular roof
2:10 weighs 4,000 tons and it is held up by six miles of steel cable