When 74 Grand Street, the proposed structure previously known as the Soho Frankenbuilding, was presented to the Landmarks Preservation Commission in June, Chair Robert Tierney called it "totally appropriate, if uninspiring." The only point of contention among the commissioners was whether or not the two-story setback on top of the five-story building was a story too large. Enough of the commissioners thought that it was, so the design team (referred to exclusively as The New Design Team since architect Joe Levine left the project) brought back the same plan with one story removed and the commissioners said, "Yeah, that's pretty much what we said you should do," and approved the building unanimously. The whole thing took about 45 seconds.
But at least we can remember the good fun times. As they say, it's better to have loved and lost than to have never seen a building that is the equivalent of Hannibal Lecter wearing another person's face skin as a mask ... at all.
· Previous 74 Grand Street coverage [Curbed]
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