The three townhouse facade braced for future development at 71-73 West 126th Street have now been demolished. We noticed that the owner (reportedly Roberta Flack at one point) tried to save the building with steel braces but seeing that its been at least 4 years since everything started to deteriorate, it now appears the facade just could not weather anymore time. These were just standing walls for the most part and cornices were removed a couple of years back. Lenox Avenue is just around the corner from the is location and even with current developments like the Red Rooster arriving, it seems that the owner could not find the finances to complete this project.
Another piece of Harlem’s architecture gone forever, I guess we can expect something non contextual in this newly opened double lot with the remaining #75 dwarfed in it’s shadow.
ReplyDeleteI am normally all for preservation but i know that lot and I could not imagine how much it would have taken to from a monetary point of view to save those buildings.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope a new and exciting building goes up in short fashion bringing more of the tax paying public to the ever changing Harlem!!
HarlemBBC, couldn't agree more. Nothing lasts forever, including brownstones.
ReplyDeleteAs tolerant as some New Yorkers pretend to be, there sure is an awful lot of complaining about non-contextual buildings in this city. The landscape of this world is ever-evolving, including the buildings that adore it. Embrace it. I'll guarantee that whatever is built on this lot will be an improvement over a dilapidated brownstone. Now, if the people who own similarly dilapidated brownstones on 119th between Lenox and 5th would either renovate or rebuild the neighborhood would really improve.
Give me a break!! if you can't afford to fix them, Sell them !! and not for some ridiculous price, but the best you can get in a limited time.
ReplyDeleteOwner you have blood on your hands.
Mike, that comment's a bit OTT, don't you think? Blood on your hands? Really?
ReplyDeleteMike, I am unsure what triggered that response but let me ask you would you rather have it sit as a rat infested empty lot?
ReplyDeleteAlso you suggest that they sell, who is to say that the person or group they would have sold the lot too would not have done the exact same thing?
Hello good people of HBespoke.
ReplyDeleteYes, upon re-reading my post, it maybe a bit ...dramatic.
BUT
I am passionate about saving our historic fabric and buildings .
BUT ALSO
Not preserving the City in amber, forming a Colonial Williamsburg-type place.
The fact is those facades could and should have been preserved and restored as housing - it is done all the time. Just look around Harlem.
It is just too easy an excuse to let these buildings rot, then let the city overreact and claim its a safety issue.
ALSO
Highrises are fine in Harlem, particularly on vacant lots AND on the Avenues.
AND I also encourage the landmarking of many many of the townhouse and other historic blocks and buildings.
Thank you
MIKE 212
Personally, I think every building needs to be protected.
ReplyDeleteWe constantly here these lame excuses about it scaring away development but the last thing Harlem needs are more condo highrises.
we have tons of empty store fronts but for some reason they keep building more.
We have a glut of townhouses that aren't being used. Almost every street in Harlem has an abandoned property left to crumble.
There are 3 such homes on my block. The hundred year old cornice fell off last year crashing on the sidewalk. Original hand rails are rusting away and no one does anything. The city is more concerned with fining the people they now are going to pay. IE the people who take care of there homes.
DW, I agree with the second part of your post.
ReplyDeleteAs a landowner in the City, and one who invests and improves the properties, I am constantly amazed how many ridiculous, confusing requirements the City has. When you upgrade an old building, it sets off all these costly additional improvements and you didnt know you had to do. So, one of the things that happens is that it is easier and cheaper to just do NOTHING. Let the building rot and eventually crumble to the ground is an easier alternative. Not that I agree with that, but the City red tape is beyond frustrating.
Much respect to you Mike for replying. I happen to think that buildings that can be saved should be but the sad truth is that some of them simply can't be and that as you pointed out is really and truly the fault of the owners.
ReplyDeleteI checked the public records and the property was sold by Roberta Flack/Magic Lady LLC to Great Hill Equities on April 24th. Prior to the sale a permit was issued to remove the facade. After the sale, another permit was issued to convert to condos & add 5,566 sq. ft. of residential floor area.
ReplyDelete"but the last thing Harlem needs are more condo highrises."
ReplyDeleteI disagree. Housing in Harlem is getting more expensive. more high-rises => more housing => more price competition => more affordable housing on average