""[The proposed building] could not feel more out of place, as if it landed off of a spaceship in the neighborhood," said Andrew Berman, the executive director of Village Preservation. "We all acknowledge that there's obviously much better uses for that site than a parking lot. The question is, what's really the appropriate design within a historic district?""
""I hope we change our frame on what is preserving the character of a neighborhood," said Ryder Kessler, a member of Manhattan Community Board 2 who supports the housing project for the parking lot. "We might say this should stay a parking lot, but the character of the neighborhood is changing already.""
A NoHo parking lot at Lafayette and Great Jones streets is the subject of a housing development dispute. The site currently contains automated parking structures with over 110 spaces and falls within the landmarked NoHo historic district. Developers propose building a 200-unit, 18-story apartment complex requiring Landmarks Preservation Commission approval scheduled for March 10. Preservationists argue the tower would be incompatible with the neighborhood's character and scale, while supporters contend the development addresses housing shortages and represents better land use than parking. This conflict reflects broader tensions in Downtown Manhattan between housing needs and historic preservation concerns.
#housing-development #historic-preservation #downtown-manhattan #urban-planning #community-opposition
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