In the News: Privatization of Interior Landmarks

••• Daytonian in Manhattan on 126-128 Franklin (a.k.a. 6 Varick): “The widening of Varick Street in 1914 chopped the Leggett Building in half.”

••• “Suspect Arrested in Racist Defacing of Africa Burial Ground.” —Tribeca Trib

••• How the Battery Park City Authority plans to protect the ball fields from the next huge storm. —Tribeca Trib

••• Recent local thefts. —Tribeca Trib

••• 45 Park Place is halfway to its final height. —New York YIMBY

••• The New York Times on the condo conversion of 346 Broadway, a.k.a. 108 Leonard. I admire much of what the developers have done to restore the building, but the Landmarks Preservation Commission has been derelict in its duties regarding the interior spaces. Take this: “Under city law, an interior landmark is supposed to be open or accessible to the general public regularly. But the ante room and some other interior landmark spaces will only be open to residents.” Below: A rendering of “the former banking hall […] being marketed as a restaurant or event space.” Perhaps it can be a lounge for visitors to the jail proposed for a block away….

 

5 Comments

  1. I’m confused — are they going to spend $14 million to protect a field that cost $3 million to replace in an extremely rare flood?

  2. Agreed! Seems like a huge waste of money.

  3. They should spend the money building new fields or figuring out how to make more field space at pier 40’s under used spaces. Its a huge waste of money and speaks to the disconnect between those who come up with this crazy solutions and people who just want to use some common sense.

  4. Indeed the LPC has been negligent in upholding the NYC Landmarks Law. Thankfully the Tribeca Trust law suit – now in appeal – asks the court to find LPC has abrogated it’s duties.

    • How many TT lawsuits are on appeal?
      * I remember there was one about the lack of criteria for designating extensions of historic districts.
      * Is there another one about interior landmarks at 346 Broadway? I thought that one was resolved with a court order opening up the clock tower, but had nothing to do with other interior landmarks there.

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