Curbed has revealed that one of the notable shells in West Harlem's landmark district will apparently have a new addition on top if the Landmarks Preservation Commission approves of it. We reported last month that 721 St. Nicholas Avenue in the Sugar Hill Historic District of Hamilton Heights was on the market but a tip informed us that
the building already had new owners with major plans for some sort of conversion from the current SRO situation. Apparently LPC had reviewed the new plans at their meeting yesterday according to Curbed but we somehow think this one might not pass:
LINK. Anyone with additional opinions on the matter?
I hope not. They need to restore it, not add a repulsive addition. It's a beautiful building with an interesting history.
ReplyDeleteI'm really not a fan of the proposed addition. It looks extremely out of place, both in the context of the historic district and in the context of the building itself.
ReplyDeleteThis row of four buildings make a great ensemble, each complementing the others. This proposed tumor is a textbook example of what the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) should not pass. Now if they added a pitched roof with a gable end or a cornice, gave the windows some features like arches to match the existing, it may work. I can only assume the architect is seeing what he can get away with. Time for the LPC to stop this.
ReplyDeleteSo stupid not to pass this since an occupied building is much better and more attractive than the burnout crack house that is there today. Really, I am fine with this. It is better to get market rate condos in the neighborhood than burned out shells.
ReplyDeleteI don't love the addition, but I like it a lot more than what's there now, and what has been there for years.
ReplyDeleteThe main issue with LPC in our city is that they don't landmark individual homes but entire blocks which endangers certain homes that need to be protected. I've been down that road before trying to safe brownstone near me and the LPC was of no help because the block had no "Landmark Status". Very silly and sad from my point of view!!
ReplyDeleteI personally think a stark contrasting modern addition could be very cool as a juxtapostion. Unfortunately this particular design is awful. Let's not try to freeze neighborhoods in time.
ReplyDeleteUG, agreed, stark contrasting architecture can work, for example the Louvre Pyramid. But it is not easy to create something starkly contrasting that works, and this architect/developer seems to be limited to the home depot style of architecture.
ReplyDelete"Let's not try to freeze neighborhoods in time." This is the main purpose of having a neighborhood landmarked. I own a landmarked home and I am only allowed to replace the existing deteriorating wood windows with new wood windows. This is ridiculous (and very expensive), but I understand that there is a reason for this rule and that it helps protect the character of the neighborhood. If a buyer doesn't like the way a landmarked building looks, they shouldn't buy it.
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