128  East 13th Street

PRESERVATION UPDATE

from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation

October 25, 2007

www.gvshp.org

Fate of 128 E. 13th Street Stable/former Frank Stella Studios Still In Doubt 

GVSHP continues to advocate for landmark designation of 128 East 13th Street in the East Village, a rare surviving stable/horse auction mart which served as the studio of artist Frank Stella for several decades (see below).  After GVSHP brought a plan to demolish the building and replace it with an apartment building to the attention of the city a year ago, the Landmarks Preservation Commission held hearings on landmarking the structure, and signed a "standstill agreement" with the owner which prevents the building from being demolished or altered while designation is being considered.  That agreement has been extended until January 2008. 
 
While the Commission has still not made a final decision on landmark designation, there are some positive signs that the building will be preserved.  The owner has sought and gotten the building listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places, which provides opportunities for tax breaks and grants for restoring historic properties; we understand a long-term lease has been signed for use of the current property; and the owner has, in cooperation with the Landmarks Preservation Commission, gotten permits to do interior renovations which will accommodate the new use while maintaining the exterior of the building. 
 
HOW TO HELP:
 To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.

 

PRESERVATION UPDATE

from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation

April 13 , 2007

www.gvshp.org

PROGRESS ON SAVING "STELLA STABLE" at 128 E. 13th Street

PROGRESS ON SAVING "STELLA STABLE' at 128 EAST 13th STREET:  GVSHP has been leading the charge to save the former stable/horse auction mart at 128 East 13th Street which for many years served as the studio of artist Frank Stella (see below).  After the City heeded our call to consider it for landmark designation last year, the building's fate has remained in limbo, with no vote yet by the City to landmark it, but a "standstill agreement" in place between the City and the owner to temporarily prevent any demolition or alteration of the building.   However, GVSHP has just learned two important and encouraging pieces of information.  The City has extended it's "standstill agreement" with the owner until July, ensuring the building's continuing preservation.  And we have been informed that the Peridance Center has signed a "long-term lease" for use of the building as a dance studio, which would indicate the owner may be arriving at a plan for permanent re-use of the building.  We will continue to closely monitor this situation and advocate for the building to be landmarked and permanently preserved.  

HOW TO HELP: 

 To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.

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PRESERVATION UPDATE

from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation

December 28 , 2006

www.gvshp.org

 

Fate of E.13th Street Stable Still Hangs in the Balance

Fate of East 13th Stable Still Up in the AirThis past summer, GVSHP brought the immediate danger to 128 East 13th Street to the attention of the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), and asked them to intervene to save the building. 128 East 13th Street is the only surviving horse and carriage auction mart building in New York City; it later became a training center for women for assembly line work during World War II and then the studio of artist Frank Stella.  The LPC acted swiftly, holding hearings on the building (the necessary first step before landmark designation) and entering into a legal agreement with the owner to prevent them from demolishing or altering the building before the Commission made any decisions on its fate.  At the hearing in early September, the turnout was overwhelmingly in support of landmark designation, though the owner opposed designation and threatened to seek a hardship ruling to overturn designation if the building was landmarked.

As we reach year end, no further formal action has been taken by the Commission, though the building continues to appear to be safe, for now.  GVSHP has been in touch with the Commission to continue to press for landmark designation as soon as possible to secure the building’s fate, and has worked closely with Councilmember Rosie Mendez to advocate for this.  Borough President Stringer, State Senator Duane, Assemblymember Glick, and many community and preservation groups strongly support landmarking this building.

HOW TO HELP:

 To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.

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PRESERVATION UPDATE

from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation

November 7, 2006

www.gvshp.org

UPDATE ON ENDANGERED STABLE AT 128 EAST 13th STREET

In early September, the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission held an emergency hearing on 128 East 13th Street, an endangered former horse and carriage mart which GVSHP had asked the City to landmark (see below).  There was a huge turnout in support, although the owner opposed designation and claimed he would file for a “hardship” exemption to demolish.  The LPC brokered a “standstill” agreement with the owner, enjoining them from demolishing or altering the building in any way before the end of the year, while they attempted to arrive at an agreement regarding landmarking.

GVSHP has remained in close contact with the Landmarks Preservation Commission and City Councilmember Rosie Mendez (a strong supporter of the proposed landmark designation) about the building, eager to ensure that designation takes place before the standstill agreement expires.  We have received an enormous amount of interest in this proposed designation from the public and our members, and continue to monitor the site on a daily basis.  We remain very optimistic that the LPC will follow through on their swift action in holding emergency hearings on saving the building this September, with a vote for landmark designation before the end of the year.  We will of course let you know when there is any further definite news to report.

 

 To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.

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Save 128 East 13th Street sticker Andrew Berman and Rosie Mendez at LPC Hearing

From Left to right: GVSHP stickers for 128 East 13th Street landmarks hearing referencing the building’s role in teaching women assembly-line work for defense industries during World War II. GVSHP Executive Director Andrew Berman and City Councilmember Rosie Mendez at the Landmarks Preservation Commission supporting designation of 128 east 13th Street.

PRESERVATION ALERT

from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation

September 12, 2006

www.gvshp.org

TURNOUT OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTS LANDMARKING OF ENDANGERED STABLE at 128 EAST 13th STREET

Fighting to Save 128 East 13th Street:  More than 50 people turned out at last Thursday’s emergency meeting of the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) to consider landmark designation of 128 East 13th Street. CLICK HERE for GVSHP's testimony. Joining GVSHP in urging that the building be landmarked were City Councilmember Rosie Mendez, representatives of Borough President Stringer, State Senator Duane, Assemblymember Glick, the Municipal Art Society, the NY Landmarks Conservancy, and the Historic Districts Council, as well as dozens of neighbors and residents.  

Unfortunately the owner, through a representative, indicated that he was opposed to designation and might claim hardship if the building is landmarked based upon how much he spent to purchase the building and to plan for the new development on the site (CLICK HERE for proposed building plans).  Hardship procedures are a means by which property owners can attempt to reverse landmark designation of their structures, but they are rarely used and are even more rarely successful.  The LPC did not vote on the proposed landmark designation, but indicated that they had a “standstill agreement” with the owner under which he would not make any changes to the building or destroy it in any way while the Commission deliberates.  Additionally, any work to alter the exterior of the building would violate Department of Buildings regulations since they have no valid permits for such work, so GVSHP is continuing to ask neighbors to report any sign of any such work to 311 and GVSHP right away.

GVSHP is asking the LPC to act as soon as possible to vote to designate this building a landmark.  We urge you to do the same.

HOW TO HELP:

 

 To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.

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CLICK HERE for New York Times Story 9/3/06

CLICK HERE for image of building proposed to replace 128 East 13th Street

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PRESERVATION ALERT

from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation

August 25, 2006

www.gvshp.org

Sept. 7 Emergency Landmark Hearing Set for Endangered Stable

at 128 E. 13th Street

Emergency Landmark Hearing for 128 East 13th Street:  We are pleased to report that in a continuing show of strong resolve, the Landmarks Preservation Commission has scheduled an emergency meeting for Thursday, September 7th at 1:30 pm to consider landmark designation of 128 East 13th Street (CLICK HERE for more information), which faces an urgent threat of demolition.  The scheduling of an emergency meeting is intended to ensure that the Commission has an opportunity to consider landmark designation before the owner is able to get permits to demolish or alter the building.  We are thrilled that the Commission has been so interested in this rare and wonderful building, and that they were willing to act quickly upon information we provided them with about the immediate danger it faces.

A strong turnout at the hearing on the 7th will help ensure that the Commission follows through and saves the building through landmarking.

HOW TO HELP:

 To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.

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PRESERVATION ALERT

from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation

August 11, 2006

www.gvshp.org

RARE ENDANGERED STABLE GVSHP FOUGHT TO SAVE GETS CONSIDERATION FOR LANDMARK STATUS!

Rare Endangered Stable Gets Calendared for Landmark Hearing!:  128 East 13th Street is believed to be the last surviving horse and carriage auction mart building in New York City.  A once-common building type in New York, these marts are distinguished by their high central halls, where horses were paraded around on rings for potential buyers to review.  This particular survivor also has an unusually distinguished history.  It was built in 1903 by Jardine, Kent, and Jardine, one of the era’s most distinguished architectural firms.  According to contemporary reports in the New York Times, in the mart’s early years “the Belmonts and the Vanderbilts and other families transacted their horse affairs” there.  Later, the building was converted to a machine shop, and there according to the New York Times during World War II women were taught “assembly and inspection work, the reading of blueprints, and various mechanical aspects needed in defense industries.”  Most recently, the building served as the studio of Frank Stella, one of the 20th century’s most notable and influential artists.  Few buildings in New York could be said to have had such a distinguished history, intersecting with so many key phases of our city’s development and transformation.

 

In July, GVSHP discovered that the building had been sold and the new owner planned to tear it down for a seven-story apartment building.  GVSHP immediately brought the danger to the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s (LPC) attention, and requested immediate action to save it.  Fortunately, the Commission had already begun examining the building, and was very receptive to the call. 

 

Without a moment to spare, on August 8th the LPC ‘calendared’ the building, meaning it is being formally considered for landmark designation, and certain protections are in place which should help ensure that it remains safe while the Commission considers designation.  The LPC has assured us that they intend to consider the building expeditiously, in light of the urgent danger it faces.  The owner initially took action seemingly aimed at removing the façade of the building in order to avoid landmark designation.  However, that has stopped, and GVSHP urges anyone seeing any work going on to alter, remove pieces of, or demolish the façade of the building to immediately report it to 311 and to call us at 212/475-9585 x38.

 

GVSHP also put out the call to our friends to support the effort to preserve this building.  Special thanks go to Borough President Scott Stringer, State Senator Tom Duane, City Councilmember Rosie Mendez, Assemblymember Deborah Glick, the Historic Districts Council, the NY Landmarks Conservancy, and scores of others who joined us in urging the City to protect this unique but endangered gem.  As soon as a hearing date has been set for the proposed landmarking or a vote has been taken, we will let you know.

HOW TO HELP:

 

To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.