Milstein had planned to replace the facade with a glass exterior similar to that of the Hyatt Grand Central New York. A few months later, Paul Milstein presented plans to the LPC for a proposed modification of the hotel's interior. On July 29, Milstein agreed to rent half of the building to Bank of America. Over the next two days, registered letters were sent to the hotel's residential guests, informing them they would have to move in the near future. After Bank of America's announcement, Seymour and Paul Milstein modified the design of the planned office building, which would now be made of granite. Variety magazine wrote: "The end of the Biltmore comes at a time when the city's hoteliers believe that the golden era of the hotels, which started in 1976, is over." Closure and preservation controversy The Biltmore ceased operations abruptly on August 14, 1981, two weeks before it had been scheduled to close. Overnight guests were informed that the hotel was closing, and permanent residents were given 30 days to leave. Demolition crews entered the same day and began removing decorations, boarding up the Madison and Bowman rooms even as other parts of the hotel remained open. The Palm Court's clock was removed and placed into storage. All except 150 guests had relocated within a day of the announcement, and the Grand Central Art Galleries closed shortly afterward. Describing the end of the Biltmore and the Grand Central Art Galleries' final show there, John Russell of New York Times wrote: "Hardly since Samson tore down the great temple at Gaza has a building disappeared as rapidly as the Biltmore Hotel. But people have shown a rare persistence this last day or two in pushing their way upstairs at the entrance on Vanderbilt Avenue to where the Grand Central Galleries has been holding its own." The New York Landmarks Conservancy and the Municipal Art Society filed for and received a temporary restraining order on August 15. Preservationists claimed that the Milsteins had destroyed the public spaces as quickly as possible to prevent it from being preserved. Conversely, a lawyer for the Milsteins said that preservationists had failed to act despite having known that the hotel had been leased to Bank of America. Although preservationists requested another restraining order on August 17, they were unable to raise a $75,000 bond to keep the restraining order in place. By then,