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Application for Big Changes To St. Luke’s Block
 St. Luke’s block, bounded by Christopher, Greenwich, Hudson and Barrow Streets, is one of the most unique and historically significant in the landmarked Greenwich Village Historic District. Consisting of early 19th century townhouses and church structures, gardens, playgrounds, mid-20th century school buildings, and a parking lot, the block has evolved considerably over time, but remains one of the most special places in the historic district. St. Luke’s Church and St. Luke’s School are also two of the most valued institutions in our neighborhood.
St. Luke’s is now applying for approvals from the Landmarks Preservation Commission to make some big changes to the block. They are seeking to erect a 153 foot tall residential tower on the site of a parking lot at 100 Barrow Street (at Greenwich Street), on the southwest corner of the block, and build several stories atop the mid-20th century school structures which line Greenwich and Christopher Street and the block’s interior gardens. St. Luke’s also proposes to eventually construct a new, approximately 4-story building on the site of a playground at the corner of Christopher and Hudson Streets.
 The St. Luke’s block is incredibly important to our neighborhood and to the Greenwich Village Historic District, and any application for major changes deserves the highest level of scrutiny and should be held to the strictest standards of “appropriateness” as required by landmarks regulations. GVSHP believes that there is room for St. Luke’s and the school to continue to grow and evolve on this block, as they have for two centuries, and that a parking lot is an acceptable site for new construction.
However, we do have issues with the proposed plans, including the height, scale, and materials of the new tower and of the additions to the school. We are also concerned about the overall relationship between the proposed new buildings and existing ones, the surrounding blocks within the Greenwich Village Historic District, and with one another. We believe a better thought out master plan for the block, which takes these concerns into account, is needed.
 This highly consequential proposal will be heard at the Landmarks Preservation Commission next Tuesday, February 4th. Click here for GVSHP’s webpage on the application for the new 153 foot tall tower and here for the page on the additions to the school. In addition to showing the proposals, these pages let you know when the hearings will take place and how you can weigh in with public agencies on the application before a decision is made, and allow you to sign up for alerts regarding the status of the application.
Next: 02/11/14
Previous: 01/16/14
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