The Landmarks Preservation Commission doesn't love everything covered in limestone: The new hotel proposed at 87 Chambers Street, which would replace a building that collapsed in 2009, got the cold shoulder from the LPC in February. The faux-arched windows, meant to evoke the old building, were a particular concern, and the architects at Goldstein, Hill and West went back to the drawing board. In April, the revised design was approved, and the Wall Street Journal takes a look at the changes. Adios, arches!
Some details:
The new design still calls for an eight-story limestone-clad building, but discards most of the original applied ornamentation. In place of the arched windows, Mr. West substitutes simpler, more vertical, double-hung windows. Further, he includes bays setback about 10 inches into the facade to give it more texture. As before, Mr. West incorporates salvaged cast iron columns into the storefront on the Reade Street side.That's the Reade Street side pictured above. When the building actually rises?it's currently penciled in for some time around who-the-hell-knows, it might not even be a hotel. The Journal writes that developer Fishman Holdings North America is considering abandoning the hotel concept for condos.
· Making Hotel Look Historic [WSJ]
· 87 Chambers Street coverage [Curbed]
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