One Building or Two, It Has Landmarks Blessing

By Carl Glassman
POSTED JUNE 1, 2007

It’s no simple matter to design a new building that fits neatly into an historic district, especially one as old and storied as the South Street Seaport.

But last month the Landmarks Preservation Commission, as well as Community Board 1, praised and approved what will be, by all appearances, two residential buildings just south of the Brooklyn Bridge, at Front and Dover Streets. Different heights, different designs, facades of altogether different materials: the two are, in fact, one.

It was about a year ago that architect Morris Adjmi won approval for the building on the Front Street side of that lot, at 254, the former site of Jeremy’s Ale House.

At the time, the developer, Barry Akrongold of Fortune Financial and Investment Corp., had wanted to create a building that combined 254 Front St. with the adjoining vacant lot at 18 Dover St.

But lengthy negotiations had broken off with the owner of the site (also proprietor of the historic Bridge Cafe on Water Street) and Adjmi proceeded with designing a building for the single lot.

According to the architect, the owner of the Dover Street lot changed his mind two weeks after the commission’s approval. Following more than half a year of further negotiations, the deal was finally signed.

Rather than start over and design a more monolithic, larger building, Adjmi and the developers chose to retain the approved design, and put what looks like a different building (but internally the same) next to it.

“We looked at the effect of this as one building and decided it was too massive and atypical for the district,” Adjmi told the Landmarks commissioners. “In a way this whole process was very long and drawn out but I think in the end it helped the design because you really were able to look at this as two different buildings. I think it’s stronger and more appropriate to the district.”

The Front Street building will be eight stories, clad in zinc panels and mahogany windows. The facade of the six-story Dover Street structure will be terre cotta.

“It’s very respectful of the community,” said Landmarks commissioner Joan Gerner, “and even though it is a modern version of the buildings [in the historic district], it’s done with such restraint it really does pick up a lot of the details that are there.”

Akrongold told the Trib that he has yet to decide on the size or mix of units in the building. But in any case, “We’ve been wanting to build this building for quite a long time,” he said, “and we’re ready to build.”

[Home][Back][Search] [Advertise][Contact]
The Tribeca Trib · 401 Broadway, 5th Floor · New York, NY · 10013 · 212.219.9709