One potential cause for yesterday's calamity at 71 Reade Street in Tribeca is the excavation work going on at the lot next door, a somewhat forgotten project that we'd tucked away in the files. In fact, as the Times reports today, inspectors had issued a partial stop work order on the lot because "drilling operations" were damaging 71 Reade (and how!). The under-construction project is a condo "expansion" by 25 Bond designers BKSK Architects. The plot comprises the once-empty lot now littered with rubble due to the collapse, the 91-93 Chambers Street lot behind it (former home to Ralph's Discount City), and adjoins the landmarked block-through building at 77 Reade Street?aka 95 Chambers Street?which will be renovated and restored, following a bit of tidying up, we imagine.
The condo plan is for the new and old to share a central core, creating 35 units with mid-building courts for light and air, ultimately rising six stories and topped by five duplex penthouses. Last year some less important buildings on the site were demolished, clearing the way for the big dig to ready the foundation. But on April 9, DOB issued that fateful order on the cleared lot at 73 Reade, following up to a complaint that adjacent buildings were "not protected." According to the Times, the boutique hotel at 71 Reade was put on hold because of financial troubles before the collapse. Will the DOB put the condos next door on hold after the collapse to send a message about being a friendly neighbor?
· Residential: 77 Reade [BKSK Architects]
· Facade Collapses in TriBeCa Historic District [NYT]
· 71 Reade Street coverage [Curbed]
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