Silver Towers, also known as University Village. Photo: LPC.

Towers were part of Robert Moses’ urban renewal project to preserve housing for middle-income Manhattan residents. Landmarks launched public consideration on the designation of three towers, collectively known as Silver Towers or University Village, located on the block bounded by LaGuardia Place and Bleecker, Mercer, and Houston Streets. New York University uses two of the towers for student and faculty housing, while the third is owned by a private cooperative and protected under the Mitchell-Lama Housing Program.

Pritzker Prize-winning architect I.M. Pei designed the 32-story towers in the International Modernist style. Photographer and architecture critic Cervin Robinson described the towers as “clear proof that inexpensive housing can be distinguished architecture.”

Landmarks has yet to announce a date for a public hearing on the matter.

LPC: New York University Silver Towers, 106 Bleecker St., Manhattan (LP-2300) (Feb. 12, 2008).