
Proposed design of new building on Middagh Street with 56 Middagh Street on the left./Image Credit: Pratt + Black Architects
The proposed building features a ground floor garage that is modeled off of storefronts in the historic district. On January 14, 2020, the Landmarks Preservation Commission held a public hearing for a Certificate of Appropriateness to construct a new four-story residential building on a partially vacant L-shaped lot on Middagh Street, located within the Brooklyn Heights Historic District. The short part of the lot fronts Middagh Street to north and the long part of the lot extends into the rear yard. Currently, there is a three-story residential building, 56 Middagh Street, on the east end of the short part of the lot. There is a 25’ by 25’ foot vacant space currently used as parking located between 56 Middagh Street and a one-story garage that belongs to 45 Hicks Street. The proposed building will be built on this space. Both the existing adjacent building and the proposed building will have the same owner.
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Rendering of proposed new building at 31 Lispenard Street/Image Credit: GF55 and Urban Standard Capital
Landmarks Preservation Commission had concerns with proposed building’s façade and bulkhead height. On September 17, 2019, the Landmarks Preservation Commission held a public hearing on a Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish an existing one and a half-story commercial brick building and construct a new seven-story mixed-used building with an elevated mechanical bulkhead at 31 Lispenard Street, Manhattan. The building is on the corner of Lispenard and Church Streets and located within the Tribeca East Historic District. Built in 1947 by Mac L. Reiser, the building was originally occupied by a garage and retail store but now houses a restaurant and a barbershop. The application was presented by Gregory Dietrich of Gregory Dietrich Preservation Consulting, David Gross of GF55 Architects, and Seth Weissman of Urban Standard Capital.
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346 Broadway. Image Credit: Brett.
Landmarks acted within its authority when it approved the LLC’s certificate of appropriateness. On March 28, 2019, the New York Court of Appeals ruled that the Certificate of Appropriateness granted the Landmarks Preservation Commission for 346 Broadway in 2014 was proper, reversing two lower courts’ decision. In 1987, the Landmarks Preservation Commission designated 346 Broadway as an interior landmark. The designation included the building’s banking hall and the 13th floor clock tower, which houses a mechanical clock. At the time of designation, the City owned the building and the clock tower was opened to the public for weekly tours.
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Existing building at 200 Montague Street in Brooklyn (left), and proposed new building (right). Image Credit: Beyer Blinder Belle/LPC.
Landmarks Commissioners disagree over the proposed demolition of the existing building and design of the new building. On March 5, 2019, the Landmarks Preservation Commission held a public hearing on a Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish an existing 1960s altered Modern style commercial four-story building and construct a new 20-story building at 200 Montague Street within the Borough Hall Skyscraper Historic District in Brooklyn. The application was presented by Richard Metsky of Beyer Blinder Belle. (more…)

498 Broome Street. Image credit: Umberto Squarcia Designs, Inc.
Special permit will allow a vacant mixed-use building in SoHo to convert to residential use. On February 4, 2015 the City Planning Commission voted to grant a special permit to Goose Mountain NYC, LLC to develop a six-story building at 498 Broome Street in the SoHo Cast Iron Historic District of Manhattan as a residential property. The permit would allow Use Group 2 residential uses on portions of the ground floor, as well as the second through fifth floors and the penthouse. The building has been vacant for three years, but previously housed Use Group 6 retail in the ground floor and cellar and an artist’s studio on the upper floors, though not officially designated Joint Live-Work Quarters for Artists.
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