Von Furstenberg's Folly

Diane von Furstenberg According to this week's Villager (article not yet online), Diane von Furstenberg forgot to go before Community Board 2 in her quest to combine and renovate two buildings--at 444 and 446 West 14th Street--before she went before the Landmarks Preservation Commission this past Tuesday. While community boards serve in a strictly advisory capacity, the L.P.C. (and other city agencies) do listen to their input. The L.P.C. told Ms. von Furstenberg to go before the board before applying for a certificate of appropriateness again. Because the two buildings are in the Gansevoort Market Historic District, the L.P.C. must approve the plans. Ms. von Furstenberg bought the properties in 2004 from meat wholesaler Gachot & Gachot for $10.5 million. She intends to convert them into a complex with theaters, event spaces, offices and an enclosed roof space, according to The Villager. -Matthew Grace