The New York Times
Date
Reading Time
10 Minutes
The New York Times – “Savoy-Plaza to Be Razed for G.M. Offices”
A New York Times report from 1964 covered the announcement of the General Motors Building project – the development by Cecilia Benattar. In this coverage, the project’s significance was emphasized with high praise. The NYT quoted Benattar’s partner, Lord Max Rayne, who deemed the venture “one of the most important construction projects of its kind in the world.”
This strong endorsement underscored the positive impact and ambition of the development. The article did acknowledge that the plan faced public backlash (including protests over demolishing the old Savoy-Plaza Hotel), but it conveyed that with support from visionaries like Rayne (and by extension, Benattar’s resolve), the project moved forward due to its considerable importance. In essence, The New York Times coverage cast the NIOT founders’ signature project as a landmark undertaking – controversial, yet ultimately transformative and acclaimed by its backers.