NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- The Astor Place "Cube" was hauled away in a truck overnight Monday, but the fabled sculpture should be spinning again in no time.
The city Department of Transportation used a crane and flatbed truck to remove the Cube, formally known as "Alamo," from its longtime perch at Astor Place and Lafayette Street in the East Village.
The sculpture appeared worn out as workers gave it a test spin overnight.
Indeed, concerns for the Cube have grown since it stopped spinning in late 2021, with many wondering what would become of it amid reports it was leaning like the Tower of Pisa.
It turns out the Cube will be taken to a foundry in Connecticut for repairs, according to a review by the city.
The estimated $100,000 in repairs are being paid for by the estate of the Cube's late sculptor, Tony Rosenthal.
"Last night The Cube was removed as part of an agreement between NYC DOT & the Tony Rosenthal Art Estate," the agency said. "Restoration will be complete this summer when it’s expected to return to its spinning glory."
Intended as a temporary art piece when it was installed in 1967, the Cube has become a fixture of the neighborhood, with DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez saying just this past week that Rosenthal had "managed to capture the imagination and spirit of the whole East Village community for decades."
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