The new rendering for the building at 207 West 79th street, via Curbed.
A new 13-story building proposed for 207 West 79th street won approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission this week after the architects removed proposed balconies and shrunk the building by 30 feet and removed the penthouse, Curbed reported.
LPC chair Meenakshi Srinivasan said she was “pleased” with the reduction in height and the removal of the terraces and the building-topping penthouse. Commissioner Michael Goldblum said demolition of the existing building was appropriate and called the new design “typical.”
The original proposal (see image below) sparked opposition, because neighbors said the balconies were out of character, and the new building would block windows at the Lucerne. The building that’s on the space now (see below) is in a historic district, although it was renovated in the 70’s and lost much of its charm.
Initial proposals at the LPC get full public hearings, and the commissiners got an earful. But when proposals come back for a second review, there is no hearing or review by the local community board.
Manhattan Borough President has criticized this practice in the past, as it allows developers to bypass a community review as long as they can do enough to satisfy the LPC. One man even spoke out at the hearing over 207 West 79th to criticize the project, Curbed reported.
A man named Samuel Leff, a past president of the West 79th Street Block Association, decided to, after the approval and closing of the hearing (and end of the day’s LPC session), get up and scold the commissioners for what they had done. This is highly unusual and several attendees seemed quite surprised. He nearly had to be escorted from the room. Outside, he said he will investigate suing the commission for their decision.
A little bland, but certainly better than what’s there now. I do like the fact that they added a partial cornice to the roof, which at least tries to harken back to the old days a bit. But what does this architect have against the west wall of the building? Still boooooorrrrrinng!
How can they block the windows in the corner building. Must be a nightmare for the residents there. But this is NYC.
those look like lot line windows. Lot line windows can be blocked. That’s something you should know before you buy a place.
Not bad. Huge improvement from existing building.
Just as I had called it , , , developer comes in with a crazy/absurd design, which typically gets rejected. Makes some changes, submits for re-approval, and gets approved.
This practice has been going on for years. The worse part about this process is that when proposals come back for a second review, there is no hearing or review by the local community board. What a shady way of conducting business. I have no problem with approvals or rejections, but when it comes to being transparent, Landmarks Preservation Commission makes a joke of the process.
City Government at its best!
You could not be more correct. The LPC process is now so developer friendly that it hardly constitutes any protection of Landmarks or historical districts and the public is frozen out. The new Chair is known as the developer’s friend. Unfortunately for neighborhoods, residents, quality of life and landmarked buildings, this rights and there needs are of no interest and no value to the LPC and the city; only money matters.
Huh? Ask anyone in real estate and they will tell you dealing with LPC is a nightmare – another government agency to add to the 11 others that have different rules and regulations. its amazing anything gets built.
That said, I am very pro landmarking. So many developers will tear down what is there to maximize FAR.
I wish LPC had some oversight and review of “as of right” development. that is how we get the bland and ugly construction that is the norm for new construction in this city.
The kvetchers sound like they are just upset about losing their view. Surely you cannot complain about the ugly 1970s building that will be demolished.
It is so much better then the first hideous design, which sadly looks like so much of the “as of right” new rentals – see the lestrand(sp?) on Broadway and the new one by same Friedlands at 80th and Broadway.
I wish the city had some jurisdiction on “as of right” or at least encouraged good design and contextual architecture. As it stands now, the City only cares about adding subsided units.
Question: Since the West facade is lot line with landmarked townhouses which effectively will never be build on , why not continue the front facade on the West side with the limestone (veneer….) and windows?
So very sad! Hope the Lucern keeps them in court for
a long time. My friends kitchen that she has lived in all her life will no longer have sun. 🙁
This just kills me.
We are losing all of the independent
and unique shops on the UWS.
Take a look at the cranberry red awning
just to the right of the maroon van.
The antique shop called, ” A Select Few.”
It represented the blood, sweat and tears of the 2 michaels.
They are now gone due to a high rent.
The UWS is fast becoming a concrete, faceless
mall.
Tell me, honestly, how many mountain climbers do you know?
Angry women wearing yoga pants are a completely different matter. we all know
scores of those…
Must there be a Starbucks, Duane Reade, cell phone company or bank
on every corner?
we are losing what was so great about NYC.
it is all corporate and soul-less.
and no, i’m not moving. i am trying to preserve and save it.