Landmarked bank to be converted to market. On February 15, 2005, Landmarks unanimously approved the adaptive reuse of the New York Savings Bank, located at West 14th Street and Eighth Avenue, by Balducci’s, a high-end food market that traces its roots to a Greenwich Village fruit and vegetable stand. Constructed in 1896, the marble-facade Classical Revival-styled bank was designated an individual and an interior landmark in 1988. In 1994, it was converted to a large … <Read More>
Landmarks Preservation Commission
Renovations approved for fashion studio
Renowned fashion designer sought to increase light and space of studio. Designer Diane von Furstenberg sought alterations to her existing retail studio located at 440-442 West 14th Street in the Gansevoort Market Historic District. Developed in 1887, the building is an example of neo-Grec and Queen Anne style French flats, which contribute to the special architectural and historic character of the district.
Von Furstenberg and architect Daniel Wood of the Work Architecture Company proposed to … <Read More>
Owner to remove waterproof coating
Cement coating applied without permits will damage masonry. Without permits, the owner of 315 President Street in the Carroll Gardens Historic District applied an orange, heavy cement-based waterproof coating to the exterior of his 1876 neo-Grec masonry rowhouse believing that it would protect the building, and also altered the windows. Following warning letters from Landmarks, the owner applied to legalize the waterproofing treatment and windows.
Denying both alterations, Landmarks advised the owner that if the … <Read More>
St. Luke’s school to expand
St. Luke’s to construct one-story addition. Landmarks approved renovation plans for St. Luke’s School located at 675 Greenwich Street in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village Historic District. The St. Luke’s School buildings consist of a gymnasium, constructed in 1926 and designed by Renwick, Aspinwall and Guard, and a school building constructed in 1952. St. Luke’s sought to demolish part of the third floor of the gymnasium at the southern end of the building and construct a visible, … <Read More>
Historic District approved
Landmarks designates northeastern Queens suburb a historic district. On December 14, 2004, Landmarks designated the Douglaston Hill Historic District in Queens, a residential park-like community developed between 1890 and 1930, to preserve the special historical and aesthetic values of early twentieth-century architectural styles within the area. The new district consists of 31 freestanding, wooden, single-family homes of Queen Anne, Colonial and Tudor Revival style. Douglaston Hill became one of the first commuter suburbs that marked … <Read More>
Storefront alterations denied
DeBeers sought to install its signature colors on landmarked storefront. The DeBeers retail store, located on the ground floor of the St. Regis Hotel, an individual landmark at 699-703 Fifth Avenue at 55th Street, sought to modify a March 2003 approval for new storefront infill. The modifications included replacing the arched windows’ translucent glass with opaque aubergine glass, covering the masonry with opaque aubergine glass, installing white lettering on the aubergine awning, and replacing pin-mounted … <Read More>