Editing Chrysler Building (section)

====1970s to mid-1990s====
Foreclosure proceedings against the building began in August 1975, when Goldman and DiLorenzo [[Default (finance)|defaulted]] on the $29 million first mortgage and a $15 million second mortgage.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Horsley |first=Carter B. |date=August 30, 1975 |title=Foreclosure Begun on Chrysler Building |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/08/30/archives/foreclosure-begun-on-chrysler-building.html |access-date=July 5, 2022 |issn=0362-4331|postscript=none}}; {{cite news |date=September 2, 1975 |title=Chrysler Building Faces Foreclosure In Mortgage Suit |page=2 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |issn=0099-9660 |id={{ProQuest|133947316}}}}</ref> The building was about 17 percent vacant at the time.<ref name="nyt-1975-10-15" /> Massachusetts Mutual acquired the Chrysler Building for $35 million,<ref name="Goldberger 1978" /> purchasing all the outstanding debt on the building via several transactions.<ref name="AR 1978-05" /> The next year, the Chrysler Building was designated as a [[National Historic Landmark]].<ref name="nhlsum" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pitts |first=Carolyn |date=August 1976 |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Chrysler Building |url={{NHLS url |id=76001237}} |access-date=May 3, 2009 |website=National Park Service |format=PDF}} and {{NHLS url|id=76001237|title=Accompanying 1 photo, exterior, undated|photos=y}}&nbsp;{{small|(164&nbsp;KB)}}</ref> Texaco, one of the building's major tenants, was relocating to [[Westchester County, New York]], by then,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Baugh |first=Glenda |date=November 17, 1975 |title=Texaco plans county 'home' |pages=3 |work=The Herald Statesman |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105003508/texaco-plans-county-homeglenda-baugh/ |access-date=July 5, 2022}}</ref> vacating hundreds of thousands of square feet at the Chrysler Building.<ref name="m105002039" /><ref name="nyt-1975-10-15">{{Cite news|last=Oser|first=Alan S.|date=October 15, 1975|title=About Real Estate|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/10/15/archives/about-real-estate-chrysler-building-facing-test.html|access-date=July 5, 2022|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In early 1978, Mass Mutual devised plans to renovate the facade, heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, elevators, lobby murals, and Cloud Club headquarters for $23 million.<ref name="Goldberger 1978">{{Cite news |last=Goldberger |first=Paul |date=March 24, 1978 |title=Owners of the Chrysler Building To Spend $23 Million to Renovate It |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/03/24/archives/owners-of-the-chrysler-building-to-spend-23-million-to-renovate-it.html |access-date=July 5, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Moritz |first=Owen |date=March 24, 1978 |title=Pledge a Soaring Future for Chrysler Building |pages=142 |work=New York Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105003431/pledge-a-soaring-future-for-chrysler/ |access-date=July 5, 2022}}</ref><ref name="AR 1978-05">{{cite magazine |date=May 1978 |title="Total restoration" planned for Chrysler Building |url=https://usmodernist.org/AR/AR-1978-05.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228155357/https://www.usmodernist.org/AR/AR-1978-05.pdf |archive-date=February 28, 2020 |url-status=live |magazine=Architectural Record |volume=163 |pages=37}}</ref> At a press conference announcing the renovation, mayor [[Ed Koch]] proclaimed that "the steel eagles and the gargoyles of the Chrysler Building are all shouting the renaissance of New York".{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=478}}<ref name="Goldberger 1978" /> Massachusetts Mutual had hired [[Josephine Sokolski]], who had proposed modifying Van Alen's original lobby design substantially.<ref name="nyt-1980-08-18">{{Cite news|last=Goldberger|first=Paul|date=August 18, 1980|title=The Chrysler Building at 50: A City's Enduring Symbol; An Appraisal 'Almost Entirely Rented' Declared City Landmark The Chrysler Tower, at 50, Enjoying New Lease on Life Reaching for the Top|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/08/18/archives/the-chrysler-building-at-50-a-citys-enduring-symbol-an-appraisal.html|access-date=July 5, 2022|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|pp=478–479}}

After the renovation was announced, the [[New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission]] (LPC) considered designating the Chrysler Building as a city landmark.<ref name="Goldberger 1978" /> Though Mass Mutual had proclaimed "sensitivity and respect" for the building's architecture,<ref name="Goldberger 1978" /> it had opposed the city landmark designation, concerned that the designation would hinder leasing.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 12, 1978 |title=Landmark Tag Fought By Chrysler Building |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/07/12/archives/landmark-tag-fought-by-chrysler-building.html |access-date=November 7, 2017 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=478}} At the time, the building had {{convert|500000|ft2|m2}} of vacant floor space, representing 40% of the total floor area.<ref name="Goldberger 1978" /> The owners hired the Edward S. Gordon Company as the building's leasing agent, and the firm leased {{convert|750,000|ft2|m2}} of vacant space within five years.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Oser |first=Alan S. |date=January 9, 1980 |title=Real Estate; Chrysler Building's Rescue |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/01/09/archives/real-estate-chrysler-buildings-rescue.html |access-date=July 5, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The LPC designated the lobby and facade as city landmarks in September 1978.{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=478}} Massachusetts Mutual had hired [[Josephine Sokolski]] to renovate the lobby, but the LPC objected that many aspects of Sokolski's planned redesign had deviated too much from Van Alen's original design.{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|pp=478–479}}<ref name="nyt-1978-11-14">{{Cite news |last=Goldberger |first=Paul |date=November 14, 1978 |title=Chrysler Lobby Focus of Dispute |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/11/14/archives/chrysler-lobby-focus-of-dispute-an-appraisal-should-be-left-alone.html |access-date=July 5, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> As a result of these disputes, the renovation of the lobby was delayed.<ref name="nyt-1978-11-14" />[[File:Chrysler Building Oct 2021 14.jpg|thumb|The Chrysler Building seen from ground level|left]]The building was sold again in August 1979, this time to entrepreneur and [[Washington Redskins]] owner [[Jack Kent Cooke]], in a deal that also transferred ownership of the [[Los Angeles Kings]] and [[Los Angeles Lakers|Lakers]] to [[Jerry Buss]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Saxon |first=Wolfgang |date=September 1, 1979 |title=The Chrysler Tower Is Sold' |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/09/01/archives/the-chrysler-tower-is-sold-faith-in-new-york-city.html |access-date=July 5, 2022 |issn=0362-4331|postscript=none}}; {{cite news |id={{ProQuest|134367257}} |title=Massachusetts Mutual Life Completes Sale Of Chrysler Building |date=September 4, 1979 |page=6 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> At the time, the building was 96 percent occupied. The new owners hired Kenneth Kleiman of Descon Interiors to redesign the lobby and elevator cabs in a style that was much closer to Van Alen's original design.<ref name="nyt-1980-08-18" />{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=479}} Cooke also oversaw the completion of a lighting scheme at the pinnacle, which had been part of the original design but was never completed.{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=479}} The lighting system, consisting of 580 fluorescent tubes installed within the triangular windows of the top stories, was first illuminated in September 1981.{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=479}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Kernan |first=Michael |date=September 17, 1981 |title=The Night Light: The Chrysler Building's Old Glory in New York Lighting Up the N.Y. Night |page=C1 |newspaper=The Washington Post |issn=0190-8286 |id={{ProQuest|147252078}}}}</ref>

Cooke next hired Hoffman Architects to restore the exterior and spire from 1995 to 1996.{{sfn|Stern|Fishman|Tilove|2006|p=479}}<ref name="nyt-1995-12-17">{{Cite news |last=Gray |first=Christopher |date=December 17, 1995 |title=Streetscapes: The Chrysler Building;Skyscraper's Place in the Sun |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/17/realestate/streetscapes-the-chrysler-building-skyscraper-s-place-in-the-sun.html |access-date=July 5, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The joints in the now-closed observation deck were polished, and the facade restored, as part of a $1.5 million project. Some damaged steel strips of the needle were replaced and several parts of the gargoyles were re-welded together.<ref name="nyt-1995-12-17" /> The cleaning received the [[New York Landmarks Conservancy]]'s Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award for 1997.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lucy G. Moses Preservation Awards for 1991–2001 |url=http://www.nylandmarks.org/events/moses_awards/lucy_g._moses_preservation_awards_for_1991_-_2001/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105234218/http://www.nylandmarks.org/events/moses_awards/lucy_g._moses_preservation_awards_for_1991_-_2001/ |archive-date=January 5, 2012 |access-date=November 6, 2017 |work=New York Landmarks Conservancy}}</ref> Cooke died in April 1997, and his mortgage lender [[Fuji Bank]] moved to foreclose on the building the next month.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Kirk |date=May 10, 1997 |title=Once Again, A Landmark Faces a Suit To Foreclose |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/10/nyregion/once-again-a-landmark-faces-a-suit-to-foreclose.html |access-date=July 5, 2022 |issn=0362-4331|postscript=none}}; {{cite news |last=Walsh |first=Sharon |date=May 24, 1997 |title=Cooke's Chrysler Building Target of Foreclosure Suit |page=F1 |newspaper=The Washington Post |issn=0190-8286 |id={{ProQuest|1457987386}}}}</ref> Shortly after Fuji announced its intent to foreclose, several developers and companies announced that they were interested in buying the building.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Feldman |first=Amy |date=May 19, 1997 |title=Chrysler Bldg. attracts bids |magazine=Crain's New York Business |volume=13 |issue=20 |page=1 |id={{ProQuest|219140232}}|postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |last=Dow Jones |date=May 23, 1997 |title=Bids on Chrysler Building |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/23/nyregion/bids-on-chrysler-building.html |access-date=July 5, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Ultimately, 20 potential buyers submitted bids to buy the Chrysler Building and several adjacent buildings.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bagli |first=Charles V. |date=September 18, 1997 |title=Chrysler Building Lures 20 Bidders With Romance and Profit Potential |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/18/nyregion/chrysler-building-lures-20-bidders-with-romance-and-profit-potential.html |access-date=July 5, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>