Dear Chair Srinivasan and Members of the Commission:
Re: 11 Jane Street
Dear Sirs/Mesdames:
We are residents of neighboring buildings to the 11 Jane Street site that is currently occupied by a parking garage, which the owner is proposing to replace with an apartment building that, per the plans it has filed with you, will reach 95 feet to its rooftop, with another 23 feet (to 118 feet height) for the rooftop "mechanicals" structure.
We strongly oppose this project because (1) the height of the proposed building is grossly out of proportion for a mid-block building on Jane Street (indeed, anywhere in the West Village) and (2) the facade and other design elements are likewise out of character with the pervasive red brick and limestone throughout most of the Village.
It seems clear that the simulated "views" provided with the building owner's plan do not give a true picture or sense of how overpowering a building of this size an height will seem from the street, thus, again, detracting from the generally low scale, intimate nature of the mid-block surroundings.
We urge that the Landmarks Commission reject this proposal.
Thank you for your consideration.
Updates
June 18, 2016
We have submitted our formal letter of objection to the Landmarks Commission detailing the concerns regarding building height and facade incompatibility. Our next step is a meeting with the local community board to present these architectural findings and request a formal review of the visual impact studies.
June 18, 2016
The volume of support has secured us a meeting with the commissioner's staff next week. We are now preparing a formal brief that highlights the specific discrepancies in the developer's height simulations.
Reached 100 supporters
June 18, 2016
44 Comments
asking to preserver the garage at 11 Jane Street because it's character is original. Other garages in the neighborhood have been beautifully converted and allow the West Village with its low rise buildings to remain a village.
I've lived at 5 Jane since 1983 and have seen what should have - the new townhouses on Bethune - and shouldn't have - St. Vincent's - been done. This proposal is something that should not be done. The space can be tastefully developed at three or four stories and plenty of folks will make millions. Take a profit and don't bleed greed.
Please consider in particular the proposed design's very negative impact on this delightful block of Jane Street as a consequence of the high proportion of the façade that is glass. Reflected sunshine during the day, and light from the windows at night, would turn the intimate "street feel" into an almost carnival-like brightness that is not at all in keeping with the neighborhood's side streets.
Please don't allow a massive structure like this to replace a structure that has been the history of the automobile in NYC since 1900.
Please do not destroy the ambiance, look and feel of this historic area for the benefit of the relatively few who would occupy the building. There would be a profound negative impact on the quality of life for far many who live in, visit and enjoy this neighborhood -- as is.
Comments:, RE: Two 90' towers at 85/89 Jane St.: "As a 30+ year resident of Jane St., the proposal for two vertical 90' extensions of the former Pro Piano building seems incongruous, inappropriate and would alter the character of historic cobblestoned Jane St. The plan to build intrusive two vertical extensions would seriously detract from one of the best-preserved stretches of original brick row-houses in NYC. Film shoots of the Jane St. stretch of row houses have been used in countless movies, television shows and commercials because it is a beautiful unified remnat of historic "Old New York". Unfortunately Two highly intrusive high towers would completely ruin the character of this residential neighborhood often used as a backdrop which has made the street famous.. Film companies, television and commercial film shoots have used Jane St. as it is now exists, recommended by their respective Locations Departments, based on the uniformity and historic authenticity of the street. Jane St. as it now exists has provided significant revenue to the City and the Mayor's Office from film companies. etc.; this revenue might be jeopardized by inappropriate new construction which significantly changes the character of Jane Street. On Walking tours, Out-of Towners regularly tour Jane St., for it's authenticity and history. Jane street enjoys high visibility. For example, Jane St. is known to be associated with Alexander Hamilton, further the relevance of Jane St. to the survivors of the Titanic's sinking (Jane St. hotel) is also well known. Jane St. is a snapshot of Old New York and it's historic significance would be jeopardized by the proposal to alter 85/89 Jane, so should not be implemented as proposed. Questions: 1. Does the NYC Landmarks Commission or City Hall have a list of all the film shoots and the amount of revenue Jane St. has produced for NYC over the years? 2. Have reps from the NYC Landmarks Commission weighed in on the propos
The project as proposed would be fine in another site, but to suggest it for this location ignores the neighborhood character, design and ethos.
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Dear Chair Srinivasan and Members of the Commission:
Re: 11 Jane Street
Dear Sirs/Mesdames:
We are residents of neighboring buildings to the 11 Jane Street site that is currently occupied by a parking garage, which the owner is proposing to replace with an apartment building that, per the plans it has filed with you, will reach 95 feet to its rooftop, with another 23 feet (to 118 feet height) for the rooftop "mechanicals" structure.
We strongly oppose this project because (1) the height of the proposed building is grossly out of proportion for a mid-block building on Jane Street (indeed, anywhere in the West Village) and (2) the facade and other design elements are likewise out of character with the pervasive red brick and limestone throughout most of the Village.
It seems clear that the simulated "views" provided with the building owner's plan do not give a true picture or sense of how overpowering a building of this size an height will seem from the street, thus, again, detracting from the generally low scale, intimate nature of the mid-block surroundings.
We urge that the Landmarks Commission reject this proposal.
Thank you for your consideration.
Updates
June 18, 2016
We have submitted our formal letter of objection to the Landmarks Commission detailing the concerns regarding building height and facade incompatibility. Our next step is a meeting with the local community board to present these architectural findings and request a formal review of the visual impact studies.
June 18, 2016
The volume of support has secured us a meeting with the commissioner's staff next week. We are now preparing a formal brief that highlights the specific discrepancies in the developer's height simulations.
Reached 100 supporters
June 18, 2016
44 Comments
There is no such building mid-block. The buildings that line Jane St are mostly brick in construction and limited to a maximum of 5 stories. This proposal is certainly not in keeping with the look of the neighborhood and street.
asking to preserver the garage at 11 Jane Street because it's character is original. Other garages in the neighborhood have been beautifully converted and allow the West Village with its low rise buildings to remain a village.
I've lived at 5 Jane since 1983 and have seen what should have - the new townhouses on Bethune - and shouldn't have - St. Vincent's - been done. This proposal is something that should not be done. The space can be tastefully developed at three or four stories and plenty of folks will make millions. Take a profit and don't bleed greed.
Please consider in particular the proposed design's very negative impact on this delightful block of Jane Street as a consequence of the high proportion of the façade that is glass. Reflected sunshine during the day, and light from the windows at night, would turn the intimate "street feel" into an almost carnival-like brightness that is not at all in keeping with the neighborhood's side streets.
Please don't allow a massive structure like this to replace a structure that has been the history of the automobile in NYC since 1900.
Please do not destroy the ambiance, look and feel of this historic area for the benefit of the relatively few who would occupy the building. There would be a profound negative impact on the quality of life for far many who live in, visit and enjoy this neighborhood -- as is.
Comments:, RE: Two 90' towers at 85/89 Jane St.: "As a 30+ year resident of Jane St., the proposal for two vertical 90' extensions of the former Pro Piano building seems incongruous, inappropriate and would alter the character of historic cobblestoned Jane St. The plan to build intrusive two vertical extensions would seriously detract from one of the best-preserved stretches of original brick row-houses in NYC. Film shoots of the Jane St. stretch of row houses have been used in countless movies, television shows and commercials because it is a beautiful unified remnat of historic "Old New York". Unfortunately Two highly intrusive high towers would completely ruin the character of this residential neighborhood often used as a backdrop which has made the street famous.. Film companies, television and commercial film shoots have used Jane St. as it is now exists, recommended by their respective Locations Departments, based on the uniformity and historic authenticity of the street. Jane St. as it now exists has provided significant revenue to the City and the Mayor's Office from film companies. etc.; this revenue might be jeopardized by inappropriate new construction which significantly changes the character of Jane Street. On Walking tours, Out-of Towners regularly tour Jane St., for it's authenticity and history. Jane street enjoys high visibility. For example, Jane St. is known to be associated with Alexander Hamilton, further the relevance of Jane St. to the survivors of the Titanic's sinking (Jane St. hotel) is also well known. Jane St. is a snapshot of Old New York and it's historic significance would be jeopardized by the proposal to alter 85/89 Jane, so should not be implemented as proposed. Questions: 1. Does the NYC Landmarks Commission or City Hall have a list of all the film shoots and the amount of revenue Jane St. has produced for NYC over the years? 2. Have reps from the NYC Landmarks Commission weighed in on the propos
The project as proposed would be fine in another site, but to suggest it for this location ignores the neighborhood character, design and ethos.
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There is no such building mid-block. The buildings that line Jane St are mostly brick in construction and limited to a maximum of 5 stories. This proposal is certainly not in keeping with the look of the neighborhood and street.