LPC Might Allow Tower That Doesn't Gut Duffield Houses

"They were sent back to the drawing board with plans commissioners said "diminished severely" the existing landmarks through demolition and the cantilevering of the tower."

""I think the solutions being proposed are very creative to deal with a number of issues," Commissioner Mark Ginsberg said, praising the setback, increased preservation efforts, and exposure of the ends of the row of houses at their corners."

""I think given its presence on a landmark site, you know, we ought to insist on a facade design that really represents our best sort of aspirations for residential tower design today," he said."

Architects Drew Hartley and David West presented revised plans on February 3 that preserve and restore three of the four 19th-century Duffield Street townhouses while converting No. 188 into the tower entrance. The new tower is sited 48 feet from the street line behind the houses instead of cantilevering above them. A recessed base creates five feet of separation between 184 and 186 Duffield and the lobby to allow a legally required fire-rated wall. Commissioners praised the increased preservation, setback, and exposure of the row ends, but requested additional work on facade design, side walls, and fire-wall placement.

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