Greenwich Village Society for Historical Preservation

The Landmarks Preservation Commission yesterday designated two additional historic districts in Greenwich Village yesterday: an extension of the Greenwich Village Historic District, nearly three blocks between Greenwich and Washington streets from Christopher to Perry streets; and the Weehawken Street Historic District, between Christopher and along Weehawken Street.

The Greenwich Village Society for Historical Preservation has been lobbying the city since 2004 to have these two swaths of land landmarked, along with the recent down-zoning of the far West Village, and now that hard work has paid off. Said Andrew Berman (through a press release), executive director of the GVSHP: "We fought so long and hard for this, it's almost hard to believe this day has finally come.  read more »

After 40 years, the City has finally seen the wisdom in stopping the destruction of one of the New York's great historic neighborhoods, which will now be preserved. Between today's landmark designation and the downzoning of the area we fought for last year, the City has taken some very meaningful steps to save this endangered neighborhood." For a map of the historic district, click here. -Matthew Grace

The Department of Buildings granted a demolition permit on Monday for the Tunnel Garage at 520-528 Broome Street. The Greenwich Village Society for Historical Preservation haas been fighting this for a while, and the organization has written a letter to L.P.C. chair Robert Tierney in a last-ditch attempt to grant the Art Deco building landmark status. -Matthew Grace  read more »

Last week, The Observer reported on the ongoing battle in the West Village that has entangled artist Julian Schnabel at 360 West 11th Street, as well as, Richard Meier’s partners at 166 Perry Street. Mr. Schnabel’s proposed 110-foot addition to his three-story stable building particularly infuriated neighbors and preservationists.

The City Council passed a downzoning of the West Village a month ago, and a dispute rages over whether Mr. Schnabel’s building is “vested” and should be grandfathered through under the old zoning rules (the maximum height of new developments dropped from 200 to 100 feet).

This morning, an e-mail circulated from the Greenwich Village Society for Historical Preservation stating that Mr. Schnabel’s building had been officially stopped. However, that work stoppage appears temporary.

“There is clearly a stop-work order in place,” said Andrew Berman, executive director of the GVSHP. “It’s clearly on the basis that the current work would not conform with the current zoning. Whether or not that is temporary or permanent, we are waiting to find out.”

The final decision from the Department of Buildings still hasn’t been reached.

“It’s still in flux,” said a spokesperson for the Department of Buildings. “[Julian Schnabel and his partners] haven’t addressed our concerns at this time. If, going forward, we revoke the permit, they have the option to go to [the Board of Standards and Appeals] to appeal.”  read more »

We'll keep you posted.

-Michael Calderone

This morning, the Department of City Planning had a standing-room-only crowd at its public hearing to discuss the proposed rezoning of the Far West Village. The drive to down-zone this stretch of Manhattan, an irregular plot of land west of Greenwich Street between Horatio and Morton streets, has been spearheaded by the Greenwich Village Society for Historical Preservation.

Attendance in support of the plan was overwhelming, with most people urging the board not to delay the zoning change; they believe several developers are racing against the clock to construct large, out-of-scale buildings under the current zoning, such as Richard Born, at 166 Perry Street. GVSHP executive director Andrew Berman also pleaded with the board to reconsider two conspicuous exemptions in the plan: the Superior Ink Factory, at 70 Bethune Street, which Related Companies wants to develop into a 120-foot-high residential development, and the Whitehall Storage building, which extends from Charles to West 10th streets between West and Washington streets, where the Witkoff Group is is planning a 175-foot-high project. A couple of people spoke up against the rezoning, including Cary Tamarkin, who is planning a to develop a building at 393 West 12th Street. Mr. Tamarkin said that he bought his property before the rezoning proposal, and if passed, it will severely affect the economics of his project.  read more »

The DCP has not yet set a date to vote on the rezoning.

- Matthew Grace