In a story that has unforgivably eluded our radar until now, the former Dakota Stable is under attack on the Upper West Side. From a Landmark West! email alert: "Last night, a day after the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) announced that it would hold a public hearing to consider designating the former Dakota Stable and the former New York Cab Company, workers arrived at the Dakota Stable and began ripping out the building's original, delicately arched, wooden windows. Glass crashed down onto the sidewalk and 77th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, unimpeded by the still-under-construction sidewalk shed (permits to erect the shed were obtained on Tuesday, within hours of the LPC decision to calendar the building for a hearing). See photos (above) for the result."
Landmark West has more background on the stables; there's something delightful about the fact that the former Dakota Stable is doing time as a parking garage. So why do they want to tear it down? Wait for it: "The Related Companies plans to erect a condominium building designed by Robert A.M. Stern on the site."
· Help Save Stable Row [Landmark West!]
· Dakota Stables to be Demolished [Preservation Online via HDC]