The Landmarks Preservation Commission handed out its rulings on two 19th Century Amsterdam Avenue stables-turned-parking-garages, and let's just say it's a day of mixed emotions for Landmark West! After fighting so hard to save the Dakota Stable on 77th street even after the developer started ripping out the building's architectural detail, the LPC ruled that there was essentially no point in landmarking the sucker now. The Commission called bullshit on the developer's actions, but there was nothing by way of the law that could be done. Chairman Bob Tierney tried to save face by urging the Related Companies to have Robert A.M. Stern architect something up that preserved some of the building, to which Related calmly replied, "Uh yeah, how 'bout no."
But over on 75th Street, the LPC bailed out the former New York Cab Company, a Romanesque Revival brick building at 318-324 Amsterdam Avenue that wasn't currently in the process of having its face smashed up. Not sure what the plans were for this one, but they probably didn't include letting the building sit untouched for the next few decades.
· 2 Former Stables on the Upper West Side Get Opposite Verdicts on Landmark Status [NYT]
· Bid To Landmark Dakota Stables Is Derailed [NYSun]
· Report: A Tale of Two Stables [Historic Districts Council]
· Dakota Stable Rains Down on Upper West Side [Curbed]