The West Village's historic but somewhat rundown Westbeth housing complex?383 live-work units for artists designed by Richard Meier before he became the Richard Meier?has finally achieved landmark status. Preservationists have been advocating that the building, an early residential conversion that, as LPC Bronx rep Michael Goldblum put it, "heralded a second life for many important buidings," be landmarked since at least 2004. It's been on the state and national registers of historic places since 2009, but the city designation took until this very morning. So congratulations are in order!
Of course, all is not instantly well at Westbeth. While the designation may save the property from redevelopment, the existing building isn't exactly in the best of shape. The low rents?studios for $650/month, 1BRs for $800/month, 2BRs for $950/month, 3BRs for $1,100/month?mean there hasn't been extra money for plumbing and roof fixes, for example. But maybe the designation will give the building access to some fresh funds in the form of grants?or so the residents are hoping.
Westbeth is the biggest name among the properties landmarked today, but the landmarkapalooza extended beyond the West Village. Also approved: the Grand Concourse Historic District in the Bronx, the Union League Club at 38 East 37th Street, the Paul Robeson Theater at 40 Greene Avenue in Fort Greene, and 20 Cottage Place in Staten Island's Port Richmond. And it isn't even Spring Designation Day!
· Westbeth coverage [Curbed]
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