LPC Approves Crown Heights North Historic District
Some 30 years after Landmarks Preservation Commission officials first explored landmarking Crown Heights, the Commission has granted landmark status to the architecturally-rich neighborhood.
Renewed Call for Prospect Heights Historic District
Bruce Ratner’s mega-project isn’t only a catalyst for lawsuits. It’s also behind a push to create a historic district in Prospect Heights. “I think with the Atlantic Yards happening, there’s a real urgency to get it designated,” Municipal Art Society fellow Lisa Kersavage told Gothamist. “The development pressures are increasing dramatically.”
Design Roundup, What's Wrong With DUMBO Edition
+ Delays are plaguing Philip Johnson’s Urban Glass House.
Building Above the Holland
It was another unusually mild, late November morning when we visited 304 Spring at Renwick, just east of Greenwich Street.
980 Madison Avenue: Visionary or Invasive?
Yesterday's Landmarks Preservation Commission hearing over 980 Madison Ave. was a relatively staid affair. On the second floor of the Surrogate's Court building on Chambers Street, Lord Norman Foster told the 150-plus audience that 980 Madison Ave. was about one thing: regeneration.
Outside DVF HQ
The sky was gray when we headed over to fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg's new headquarters at the southwest corner of Washington and 14th Streets. The 1887 landmark building, built by Jacob Astor as a home for nearby pier and market workers, most recently belonged to Gachot & Gachot, the meatpacking company that distributes steaks to Peter Luger's. After a complete overhaul (it was even joined with the building next door), it will house von Furstenberg's design and administrative offices, including a 5,000 square-foot showroom, a black-box theater and retail space.
Hundreds Pack in for Atlantic Yards Public Meeting
The Atlantic Yards Project's public meeting last night was packed with Brooklyn residents wanting to have their say. WNBC reported that hundreds of people were waiting outside the New York City College of Technology, since the auditorium was full, and inside, "the crowd became unruly, cheering wildly for their cause until security was called in to remove a few of the audience members." That sounds about right - and they had lots of signs for and against the project! About 300 people had signed up to speak, and since 3 minutes is allowed for each person, that would mean a public meeting that would go on for more than half a day.

