New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) will soon review proposals to renovate and expand a row of historic structures in Manhattan’s Gansevoort Market Historic District, otherwise known as the Meatpacking District. The properties are located at 44-54 Ninth Avenue and 351-355 West 14th Street at the corner of 14th Street and Ninth Avenue.
View of existing conditions of the property from the corner of 14th Street and Ninth Avenue – BKSK Architect
From developer Tavros Holdings, the proposals specify a full exterior restoration and the construction of a new nine-story commercial office in-fill behind the buildings. Local design studio BKSK Architects will serve as architect of record.
The buildings were originally completed in the 1840s and are rare surviving examples of pitched-roof row houses in Manhattan. In their existing condition, the brick façades have been stuccoed, painted white, and converted for partial residential use at the upper levels. The structures’ first floor and cellar levels are occupied by retail and dining tenants.
Renderings from BKSK Architects illustrate an extensive restoration of the façade to reflect its original red-brick design and gray slated roof. This includes replacement of existing street-level awnings and installation of new aluminum-cased windows.
The renderings also reveal possible retail spaces at the ground floor with exposed-brick support beams. The retail component will also extend one level below grade.
Renderings of proposed retail spaces – BKSK Architects
Existing conditions (top) and rendering of proposed alterations (bottom) of the lower-level retail component – BKSK Architects
The new office component at the rear of the property will top out around 120 feet above ground, not including required mechanical structures at the roof of the building. The façade of the building is a stark contrast to the existing masonry structures and will include a mix of gray and black metal paneling and floor-to-ceiling glass.
The office suites within will feature both exposed brick and metal support beams, glass skylights above the ground floor, new balconies positioned above the restored roofs, a rear courtyard above the first floor, and a private terrace above the ninth floor.
Renderings of proposed facade of the commercial in-fill and office balconies – BKSK Architects
Renderings of second floor office suite – BKSK Architects
The LPC is expected to review these proposals on Tuesday, June 2. At this stage of the project, a proposed construction schedule has not been released.
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The NIMBYs will have a field day with this proposal.
Gorgeous redevelopment – this is a prime example of marrying old with the new.
Don’t lose the Old Homestead Steakhouse..I haven’t eaten there yet. 🙂
Gotta do better than a banal box on that site
a text book example of how to kill a streetscape; banality reigns.
currently block offers a ‘REAL’ experience of urbanity, and, history.
this proposal offers nothing legitimate.
Wow, totally agree, VS! This stretch of 9th Avenue is charming and vibrant, to turn it into another South Street style strip mall would be tragic. Go ahead and a pop a tower behind it if you are that desperate to make a buck, but please leave some sense of humanity on the street. I’d miss the lively jumble of dormers, and the intimacy of the scale of the commerce. And really, can you talk about restoration AND the replacement of period-scaled wood sash windows with aluminum?
This is spot-on, while I like the tower a lot, “restoring” the older buildings and adding a completely bland retail option will kill the pedestrian experience and sterilize that strip.
Does everyone understand that this is the epitome of “Facadism”, the scourge of preservation? There will be nothing “original” left of these historic buildings. They will be movie sets, fake make-overs of what stands there now in all it’s disheveled authenticity. The breathing souls of these buildings, nine of them, will be eradicated. And they have the gall to call this “preservation”. And what about that giant ice cube they plan to park in the back yards?