Restaurant owner replaced stucco, altered windows, and installed fake ivy without obtaining Landmarks’ approval. On October 19, 2010, Landmarks considered a proposal to legalize facade alterations to the storefront of a Greek Revival townhouse at 47 West 8th Street in the Greenwich Village Historic District. The four-story townhouse was built in 1845, and the first two stories of its facade were altered in the early 20th century using stucco. The Rabbit in the Moon restaurant currently occupies the space. The restaurant owner, Michael Santora, replaced the stucco with stone cladding, altered the ground floor entrance, removed a display window on the second floor to create a dining balcony, and installed artificial ivy.

At Landmarks’ hearing, Santora testified that he was unaware that separate Landmarks approval would be required after his engineer filed a self-certified application with Buildings. He explained that the exterior stucco was in disrepair when he purchased the property and the stone cladding matched the original stucco. Santora said he intended to grow ivy to replace the artificial ivy and claimed the renovated facade had become “a defining part of the restaurant.” (read more…)