Recently our little section of Noho received its landmark status, which was great news. Basically it means that the exterior of all the buildings in the designated area cannot be altered nor can they be torn down. Therefore the aesthetic and historic nature of the neighborhood might be preserved. Woo-hoo, right? What types of businesses that can move into those buildings is far less regulated. For example, a Subway sandwich shop is now located on Bowery between E. 4th St. and Great Jones. A Subway? Really? But at least NYU is still unable to bring classrooms or dorms into the neighborhood. By the way, have I mentioned how much I hate NYU? Probably not. More on that later.
Curiously, though, is where the designated area stops and starts. Take a look at the little map here. We are in red.
What is going on on the northern and southern corners of East 4th and Bowery, the northern and southern corners of Great Jones and Bowery, the southern corner of Bond St. and Bowery (all in white)? Hmmmmmmm these corners (or gateways to the neighborhood) did not make it into the landmarked district. “Why is that?” we asked...
“BECAUSE THE DESIGNATED AREA HAS TO STOP SOMEWHERE.”
Really? Really?!? Really?!?!
Oh gee, ya couldn’t have made the non-landmarked area start, oh say, across the street on the east side of Bowery. No, that would make too much sense to keep the designated area within its street-imposed grid. Instead, leaving the gateways (and please read “super attractive corner lots in a hot little ‘hood”) to the neighborhood open to developers who might possibly give little thought about building height, materials, aesthetics and that little problem of fitting into an historic district. And let’s not stop with the physical aspect of what makes a building fit in down here. There is a vibe, that when taking all the physical aspects into consideration, when added up, gives a neighborhood it’s feel.
When I get off the subway,I do my absolute best to stay off Broadway and head over to Lafayette with its wide sidewalks,
The Public Theater,
Colonnade Row,
and the Devinne Press building. The list goes on. It is one of the most peaceful walking experiences in New York. When I was working and taking the subway home, it was always that particular short walk which diffused the tensions of my day.
I am not suggesting that each new building be on the respectful level of the Bowery Hotel but please let’s not tolerate the architectural ego of the Gwathmey building at Astor Place.
(by the way, we did gain a little more landmarking on the north side of east 4th st. but it ends still short of the corner where a 15-story rental unit has gone up. the material seems a little shabby but it could have been worse. oh and some of the apartments rent for $20,000 per month. yikes!)
No comments:
Post a Comment