The townhouse in its current state.
Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller and partner Joshua Lehrer want to renovate an eight-unit townhouse at 36 Riverside Drive into a one-family mansion. But they need approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and it’s not yet clear whether they’ll get it.
The proposal for the renovated townhouse.
The community board has already recommended denial of part of the plan, according to NY YIMBY, which had a reporter at a Landmarks Preservation Commission meeting on Tuesday.
Lehrer presented the renovation plan to the LPC with preservation consultant Ward Dennis. The townhouse, which they bought last year, was built between 1888 and 1889. The renovation would expand the structure from 8,997 square feet to 10,375, according to YIMBY.
“The basement, or ground, level would be reconstructed with a centered entrance. The stoop would not be restored, Dennis said, because it would end up abutting the new apartment building to the left. The first floor would be built out on the rear, raising the yard by one story. The first floor would also be regularized, new windows would be installed on the second floor, the non-original bay on the third floor bay would be replaced with a new one clad in copper, and the fourth floor balcony would get new doors.
The fifth floor would also get new windows, as well as replacement of its terra cotta to match existing copper on the mansard. The fifth floor would then be built out to the full depth of the house and an addition constructed on top of that for roof access and an elevator bulkhead.”
The West End Preservation Society objected to a new glass bay and Landmarks West objected to a change to the entrance. The applicant is likely to come back with some changes.
Images from LPC presentation.
They put up scaffolding on top of the building in Dec/Jan in anticipation of adding a floor.
The canvas covering the scaffolding has been flapping in the wind ever since.
Seems like that top floor will be out of place with the character of the building.
Looks good – No issues – Move forward and turn it into something spectacular
Looks good excited for the families he’s kicking out. Aren’t there something like 3000 other vacant apartments in this city that don’t require a massive renovation and permits? It’s just selfish.
Looks like it will be beautiful, and in keeping with the rest of the neighborhood. I’m a sucker for copper-clad roofs though.
Mac mansions on th UWS? No thanks!!
People buy historic land marked buildings and then they want to change them! They want to expand them and “regularize” them. If they want all glass rooms and modern looking accommodations why not buy them. As to the new owner being associated with Hamilton…who cares?
No tears. They knew it was landmarked when they bought it. If you don’t want a home that was worthy of being landmarked, then move to mcmansionville where you belong.
The whole plan is outragious, vulgar, and insulting to the community and the folks who now live at 36 Riverside. Good that the plans have been denied. Please stop this nonsense.
The architect’s new plan is a far more pleasing facade than the present one. Just because it’s landmarked doesn’t mean older, butcher job renovations are good or beautiful. You have to use some common sense.
Elevator bulkhead?
I don’t think many newly constructed or renovated mid-rise buildings in the US/Europe/Asia have used elevators that require above-the-roof elevator bulkheads for the last 20 years.
Standard hydraulic elevators found in pretty much any building under 70 feet tall only require a ground level elevator pit and a closet sized room pretty much anywhere inside the building for electronics and hydraulics. Cheaper, more efficient and doesn’t require anything going through the roof. Every major manufacturer makes them.
Where’d they find this architect? Or it is probably a case of them having way too much money to spend.
There – I just knocked 10 feet off the building for you – no charge.
Secondly – where are they putting all of the air conditioning equipment? It isn’t in the article and I don’t see it on the drawing. I’ll bet that it’ll go on the roof right next to the windows of the neighboring buildings. Nice.