A state Supreme Court judge tossed a lawsuit filed by advocacy group Save Gansevoort against the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission and the developers William Gottlieb Real Estate and Aurora Capital Partners, who are behind plans to redevelop a block long stretch on Gansevoort Street between Greenwich and Washington streets, reports The Real Deal.
To refresh: developers are planning to turn five low-slung buildings within the Gansevoort Market Historic District into a strip of taller buildings with high-end retail, offices, and eateries, designed by BKSK Architects. Residents and preservationists argued that the proposal was completely out of character with the neighborhood. In June 2016, the LPC approved revised plans for the project.
In the lawsuit, Save Gansevoort charged that the LPC has “ceased to be a commission that engages in landmark preservation and, instead, has become a city agency dedicated to justifying decisions favorable to real estate developers,” which led to the approval of the large-scale development project. However, Judge Joan Lobis sided with the LPC, stating that Save Gansevoort hadn’t proved that the commission “decided the matter irrationally or abused its discretion” since there were numerous public hearings that addressed opposition and proposed modifications to the proposed design.
“It would be an abuse of this court’s discretion to do anything but dismiss the application,” declared Judge Lobis.
The temporary injunction placed on the site by Lobis will remain in place for another five days to give Save Gansevoort time to appeal the decision.
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