Upcoming Development Proposal Shows Importance of Landmark and Zoning Protections
As you may have heard, development plans have recently been announced for several important sites in our neighborhood. Fortunately, thanks to landmark and zoning protections, each plan will have to undergo a rigorous public review in which YOU can participate, and cannot be approved unless it is found “appropriate” for its historic surroundings.
Here is an update on one in the Meatpacking District:
 9-19 Ninth Avenue at Little West 12th Street: Located in the heart of the Meatpacking District, the existing structure consists of four former stable and wagon storage buildings combined and shortened to one two-story garage in 1921 by William Vincent Astor. Since the late 1990s it has housed the popular restaurant Pastis. In 2003, GVSHP succeeded in getting the building and approximately one hundred ten others on a dozen surrounding blocks landmarked as part of the Gansevoort Market Historic District. Though simple, the building clearly contributes to the Gansevoort Market Historic District, and due to its central location facing Gansevoort Plaza, it has an outsized visual impact upon the neighborhood.
A new part-owner has announced plans to seek major changes to the building, including raising the height of the existing structure (according to plans filed with the Department of Buildings, from 32 to 80 feet, and from 2 to 5 stories). No formal plans have been filed for the site and no hearings set. However, because the site is located within the Gansevoort Market Historic District, no changes can proceed unless approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission after a through public hearing and review process, with the burden upon the applicant to prove that any proposed changes are “appropriate” for the site and the district. We believe that this site has great visual and historic importance to the Gansevoort Market Historic District, and that any proposed changed must be very carefully considered and should be modest in scale.
No landmarks applications have been filed for any of these projects yet. When they do, they will appear on our Landmarks Application webpage, and information about this and all other landmarks applications will appear in our regular e-mail notices. If you would like to receive updates about applications for any of these sites, click here and enter the address along with other required information. You’ll receive notifications of when the hearing has been set and how you can weigh in on the application before decisions are made.
Next: 05/02/14
Previous: 12/19/12
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