Renderings have been posted for a small redevelopment at 408 West 58th Street, where the conversion and expansion of the existing structure just began in January, following the approval of DOB permits; the documents reveal that Faulding Architecture is behind the design, while Perry Chopra of Claremont Hotels is the developer.
408 West 58th Street, image by Faulding Architecture
While the on-site images are obscured by scaffolding, additional renderings of the project are online, at Faulding’s website; there were several potential designs conceived for the site, though it appears that the most ‘standard’ version — which comes with a zig-zagging, map-like facade — will ultimately be built. The expansion will add over 4,000 square feet to 408 West 58th Street, increasing its size to 8,165 square feet; the lot was listed for just shy of $3 million on Streeteasy two years ago.
408 West 58th Street
The exact make-up is slightly odd, especially for a centrally-located lot in Midtown; the lower three levels will be home to a ‘non-commercial’ art gallery, while a single-family home will share the third story with the gallery, and extend upwards through the sixth floor. The Schedule A has additional details, but it appears that the gallery and home will be part of a larger, singular residence, spanning the entire site.
408 West 58th Street
In an extremely odd twist, the renderings also indicate that 408 West 58th Street will have no entrance adjacent to the sidewalk, and the images depict a private driveway leading to a garage in the building’s basement level. The driveway’s curb-cut is already there — so it won’t detract from the urban experience anymore than it already does — but developments of this type are exceedingly rare in Manhattan, where even the most expensive townhouses have doors that front onto the sidewalk.
Old scheme for 408 West 58th Street — via Faulding Architecture
Old scheme for 408 West 58th Street — via Faulding Architecture
The additional schemes on Faulding’s website look significantly more innovative and transformative than what will ultimately be built, but given the limited scope of 408 West 58th Street, its impact will be minimal regardless of the building’s anti-urban design. Completion is expected in the spring of 2015.
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