Landmarked West Village district extended

BY JUSTIN ROCKET SILVERMAN | amNEWYORK STAFF WRITER

May 3, 2006

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The potential for additional massive luxury development in the West Village was dealt a seemingly fatal blow Tuesday when the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to extend Greenwich Village's historic district clear to the West Side Highway.

"This is something that so many people have fought so long for, and it has finally come to fruition," said Andrew Berman of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. "We can finally rest easy that our neighborhood will be preserved."

Advocates for preservation have been galvanized in recent years by construction of projects like Richard Meier's glass towers on the West Side Highway, which they say diminishes the historic character of their neighborhood.

Under the new designation, historic buildings will be protected from demolition and new construction will be capped at a certain size and height.

Some residents opposed the expanded historic district, citing increased bureaucracy and red tape any time they wanted to make improvements to their homes. But Tuesday's decision was mostly greeted with claps and Champagne toasts.

"It's a tremendous victory," said Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. "If there is any part of this borough that wants to be landmarked, it is the West Village."

Tuesday's ruling will protect 55 buildings on five blocks. Buildings with historical protections have traditionally been less desirable to real estate developers.

"There may be a few real estate speculators who have been eyeing this area and are not happy," said Berman. "But that's OK, they already have had more than their share of the fun."

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