Landmarks Preservaton Commission

Jean Nouvel, the newly minted winner of architecture’s Pritzker Prize, will likely face some criticism of his planned 75-story apartment tower (rendering right) next to the Museum of Modern Art tomorrow afternoon, as the development proposal goes before the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission for a hearing.

Surrounding residents have criticized the tower for its out-of-scale height, and the local community board recommended against the development last month. Though in a twist uncommon to not-in-my-backyard battles, architectural enthusiasts, troubled by the community board vote, have tried to rally support for the tower, at least in cyberspace (we’ll see if they show up to the hearing tomorrow).

The Times did a profile of Mr. Nouvel yesterday and quoted his business partner as saying the French architect was focusing his energy on the MoMA tower.  read more »

One Chase Manhattan Plaza, one of the signature buildings of Lower Manhattan’s skyline, is slated to become a landmark. The city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission has a hearing on the building scheduled for Tuesday. Landmark status, which restricts changes to the building and site, would ultimately require approval from the mayoral-controlled LPC.  read more »

Last night Community Board 4 recommended that the Landmarks Preservaton Commission designate 127 Seventh Avenue as a landmark. The four-story red-brick building, which has a poorly known historical record, was thought to be a stable at one time for Macy's, when the store located on 14th Avenue in the latter part of the 19th century, and later the mission school of the Presbyterian Church.

Currently vacant, there have been rumors circulating that its demolition is imminent, with a new, large residential building slated to go up in its stead (naturally). In recommending that the building be granted landmark status, the board said the 1846 building has "exceptional architectural and historic significance," such as its facade that's divided into three "strongly expressed" piers and two recessed three-story bays topped by segmented arches. Back when it served as a stable for Macy's, stores throughout the Ladies' Mile district had their own stables to deliver goods throughout the city.  read more »

-Matthew Grace