Renwick At Sunset: An invasion.

Renwick is seen in this recon photo just south of the 59th st. bridge, manhattan in the background. Nautical entry is advised.

The front end of Renwick with WTC in the distance.
Strecker lab, currently being converted into a tunnel vent for the MTA.

Interior Hallway. Watch your step and pass the hard hat.
 Renwick Ruin is one of few true ruins in NYC, and possibly the only one to have been granted landmark status. It is named after it's designer, James Renwick, who also designed St. Patrick's Cathedral across the river in Manhattan. The building is also known as the "smallpox hospital", and was built by convicts which lived in a jail which was also on the island in 1856.

Much changes in 150 years, and the fact that renwick has survived even this long in a city known for paving over it's own history in the name of "progress" is a marvel in and of itself. Indeed, one of it's nearest neighbors, City Hospital, was leveled during the 1980's - the only 19th century building on the island that survived into recent times to have been demolished.

A third building is located nearby, this being the old Strecker Laboratory of City Hospital. It is currently being cosmetically restored (only it's shell) by The New York Transit Authority, so they may to build an airshaft transfer station inside of the building without creating an ugly structure that does not fit into the landscape.

Collectively, the area is known as 'southpoint', and is entombed behind a steel fence and wall stretching the width of the island. Public access to this location was discontinued in 1982. The only current access to this location is via an occasional historic tour, or to pay $10 admission on July 4th in order to watch the fireworks display over the east river.

This, of course, did not prevent a rare and bold twilight raid by the combined forces of the RWS and LTV. After some initially wrangling due to civilian activity, It was not long before mobilization occurred. In a two-prong attack, utilizing both surface and nautical methodologies, entry to the facility was obtained.

Access to the building inself is easy. There are no door or windows. Only the stone walls remain, with a seasoning of wood and debris from upper floors lingering. The hallways are consumed by large rock piles, and large trees and other floral growth occupies the rooms once filled with sick and dying patients.

It was not long though before an NYPD Gestapo van in from the mainland was circling the building. Additional foot patrol security was also on location. (Possibly to guard the MTA/Strecker site). Escape was made through the brush and mud coated paths leading to the site as the sun dipped below the World Trade Center in the distance.

Recent proposals for this location have included building a hotel on the site of city hospital, with the conversion of Renwick into some glossy conference center. With it's views of Manhattan just across the river, this is prime real estate. In a capitalist city with little regard for it's own history as this one, there may soon come a day when the renwick ruin becomes just another gutted, revamped building no one cares about, as may indeed be the fate of Strecker Lab, just to it's north...