Developer seeks to demolish 1929 building to construct three-story mixed-use building. On February 12, 2008, Landmarks heard testimony on an application to demolish a two-story commercial building and construct a three-story building with a penthouse in its place.

George H. McCabe designed the existing building, located at 131 Seventh Avenue South in the Greenwich Village Historic District, with a sophisticated brick design and stepped parapet. McCabe, who was a Greenwich Village resident, also designed the Washington Heights Courthouse and various buildings in the Hamilton Fish estate, including a studio on Irving Place located just south of the Fish mansion in the Gramercy Park Historic District. (more…)

Proximity to subway and historic district created uniqueness. Manhattan developer sought a variance to build an 11-story, mixed residential and commercial project on a 10,697-square-foot lot at 122 Greenwich Avenue at Eighth Avenue, arguing that the lot’s proximity to the Eighth Avenue subway line, its split zoning, the shallow depth, its location within the Greenwich Village Historic District, and its odd five-sided shape made an as-of-right building infeasible. The final 11-story undulating glass design necessitated variances to floor area, lot coverage, height and setback, among others. Landmarks approved the Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates design in September 2006, finding that its modern shape and materials created a contrast that would enhance the existing surrounding buildings.

Vocal opponents to the project included Borough President Scott Stringer, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, who argued that due to its desirable location, the project had no genuine financial hardship. The lot currently contains a parking lot. (more…)

Emergency hearing held on East Village horse stable and auction house. On September 7, 2006, less than one month after calendaring, Landmarks held a hearing on the possible designation of the Van Kearney and Van Tassel Horse Auction Mart at 126 East 13th Street in the East Village. The 1903 Beaux-Arts building, which has also served as an automobile showroom, a women’s assembly-line training center during the second World War, and the studio of painter Frank Stella, was recently purchased by a developer who received a building permit to construct a seven-story building on the site, but had yet to receive demolition permits. In response to community petitioning, Landmarks calendared the building, which halted the issuance of demolition permits by Buildings. 3 CityLand 126 (Sept. 15, 2006).

Numerous public figures spoke in favor of designation or sent representatives to the hearing, including State Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Council Member Rosie Mendez, and State Senator David Chang. Mendez spoke of her community’s recent struggles to protect P.S. 64 and St. Brigid’s Church, and asked that Landmarks work more closely with Buildings to avoid the destruction of important historic buildings. (more…)

Supporters urged more inclusive designation. On October 18, 2005, Landmarks held a hearing on the proposed expansion of the Greenwich Village Historic District and creation of a new historic district along Weehawken and West Streets in Manhattan. As proposed, the Greenwich Village Historic District Extension would add 36 buildings within the threeblock area bounded by Perry, Washington, Christopher and Greenwich Streets. The newly proposed Weehawken Street Historic District would encompass 14 commercial and residential buildings along the block bounded by Weehawken, West, Christopher and West 10th Streets.

At the Landmarks hearing, Assemblywoman Deborah J. Glick spoke in support of the designations, but requested the expansion of the districts to include more structures on Charles Street and the Superior Ink factory at 70 Bethune Street. Glick emphasized that Landmarks should act quickly to halt the “gold rush” into the West Village by developers. (more…)

Two new proposed districts would encompass 50 buildings west of Greenwich Village Historic District. Landmarks took the first step towards expanding the Greenwich Village Historic District and creating a new historic district along Weehawken and West Streets in Manhattan by voting unanimously on September 20, 2005 to hold hearings on the designations.

As proposed, the Greenwich Village Historic District Extension would add 36 buildings within the three-block area bound by Perry, Washington, Christopher and Greenwich Streets. The district extension would encompass residential, warehouse and stable structures. Landmarks voted unanimously to calendar a hearing with Chair Robert Tierney crediting Council Member Christine Quinn as being instrumental in voicing her district’s desire to expand the protection of the Greenwich Village Historic District to encompass blocks of the Far West Village. (more…)