Starting in June, New Yorkers and visitors will able to see the city from atop the Dinkins Municipal Building, Mayor Mamdani announced Monday.
The cupola of the building, which boasts sweeping views of the Hudson, Midtown skyscrapers and the city’s bridges, will be renovated, fitted with glass barriers and opened for tours by June, Mamdani said.
The building is named for David Dinkins, the city’s first Black mayor, and houses many city offices including that of the city comptroller, public advocate and Manhattan borough president, as well as multiple city agencies. Completed in 1914, it is one of the world’s largest government office buildings.
Though the top of the building was originally intended to be open to the public, access has long been closed off.
“It’s been closed off to the very people that should be seeing it,” Mamdani said at a freezing rooftop press conference. “As we celebrate Mayor Dinkins’ legacy, we are changing that.”
The project is slated to cost $6 million.
“This will restore the power visually and strengthen its functionality through upgrades such as safety glass and ceiling netting and overall extend the life of the facility,” Yume Kitasei, commissioner of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, said of the renovation.
“Perhaps most exciting, we are thrilled that we’ll be providing public access to the stunning piece of history… We’re gonna make it iconic building, a must see bucket item for all New Yorkers.”
