Revised Gansevoort Plan Tries to Skirt Landmarks Limit
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Original proposal (l) and new proposal (r); better, but still too big |
In February, the Landmarks Preservation Commission told the developers of a proposed multi-building complex on Gansevoort Street to scale back their proposal, providing specific direction about models to look towards for the height of any new construction. While we were disappointed that the Commission did not require preservation of all of the existing buildings and allowed a larger scale of new construction than we thought appropriate, we were gratified that the Commission called for scaling back the proposal considerably.
Apparently the developer did not hear it that way.
While in their revised application the developers did make significant improvements to their plans for 50 Gansevoort Street, at 60-68 and 70-74 Gansevoort Street the developers have proposed new construction still well in excess of the models the LPC directed them to consider. At 60-68, the LPC told the developer that the additions to the existing building should go no higher than the 5-story building which was once found on this site. Research by GVSHP and Save Gansevoort indicated that this building was likely between 50 and 55 feet tall. Yet the developer is proposing additions that would bring the new building to 62 feet in height. And at 70-74 Gansevoort Street, the LPC told the developer that a new building should be no taller than other “loft style” buildings in the Gansevoort Market Historic District. Research by GVSHP and Save Gansevoort showed that such buildings ranged in height between 39 and 74 feet tall, with an average of 56.5 feet. Yet the developer, looking instead to much larger “warehouse” buildings as their model, has proposed a building which is still 83 feet to its cornice and 97 feet to the top of its mechanicals.
GVSHP has written to the LPC stating how outrageous and unacceptable we find the revisions. The new proposal is scheduled to be heard by the Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday, June 7th, though the public is not allowed to speak.
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Next: 06/08/16
Previous: 02/16/2016
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