By Kevin Korber of Village Confidential
Currently, 145 Perry Street in the West Village is the location of a beige, two-story building that developers have been trying to repurpose into something else. The most notorious plan in recent years was proposed by developer Scott Sabbagh: a seven story hotel on the corner of Perry and Washington Streets. That proposal did not go over well with West Village residents, and the size of the hotel was first reduced to include townhouses in the development, and then it was abandoned altogether after the neighborhood was re-zoned to prevent anything but residential structures from being built.
Now, architect David Helpern - who came up with the original design-has proposed a different take for 145 Perry Street: four townhouses, three along Perry Street with a large fourth townhouse on the corner of Perry and Washington Streets in place of the hotel. Helpern’s proposal to the Landmarks Preservation Committee emphasized a communal garden behind the townhouses as well as the added residential space.
Despite the adjustments, the LPC turned down Helpern’s new proposal for 145 Perry Street, sending Helpern back to square one for his development. Reportedly, LPC members were not impressed with Helpern’s fourth townhouse, saying that the design of the building made it resemble “a very unfortunate government building.”
No word yet on when Helpern will return with new renderings for 145 Perry Street or if he will return to the LPC at all.
Comments(1)