Construction is proceeding on a new, 8-story, residential condominium building at 52 Laight Street in TriBeCa that will have five full-floor units and two duplex penthouses.
Kengo Watanabe of Laurel Capital Inc., is the developer and German Longoria of Sueelen DeFrancis Architecture and Interiors of Scarsdale, New York, is the architect.
The site was formerly occupied by two garages.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission approved the design in 2006. It noted that the proposed red-brick and limestone building with a wood storefront initially had been designed with "a more liberal use of cast stone, fiberglass spandrel panels and limestone banding."
The commission found that the existing buildings were not "architecturally notable in themselves" and had been altered over time and did not contribute to the special architectural character of the streetscape or the historic district.
It also found that that "the height of the primary facade of the new building will relate well to the other buildings in the streetscape; that the floor to ceiling heights of the new building will be proportional to those found on the adjacent buildings, and will support a relationship between the new building and its neighbors; that the facade of the new building will be composed in a traditional arrangement of base, shaft and termination which is characteristic of multi-story buildings in this historic district; that the details and fenestration of the facade, including cast stone intermediate cornices, and paired two-over-two wood windows, and brick paneled spandrels is in keeping with rhythm and pattern of primary facades of buildings of this size and scale found throughout the historic district; that the materials and finishes used for the facade will be harmonious with the materials of the streetscape and are consistent with the materials and the color palette found on many buildings within the Tribeca North Historic District; that the use of brick cladding and simple punched window openings on the lot line elevation will evoke the scale, materials and articulation of historic lot line facades; that the use of limestone and wood infill at the commercial base, with limited lighting and signage, is simple and understated, and is in keeping with utilitarian buildings found in the historic district; that the limited visibility of the top floor set back, visible only at an oblique angle from the west is consistent with the profiles of many buildings with rooftop bulkheads in the historic district; and that the proposed loggia, incorporating arched masonry opening and railings, while not typical of buildings in the historic district, will allow for the facade to achieve a height complimentary to the street wall and will maintain a well revolved fenestration pattern."
Kengo Watanabe of Laurel Capital Inc., is the developer and German Longoria of Sueelen DeFrancis Architecture and Interiors of Scarsdale, New York, is the architect.
The site was formerly occupied by two garages.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission approved the design in 2006. It noted that the proposed red-brick and limestone building with a wood storefront initially had been designed with "a more liberal use of cast stone, fiberglass spandrel panels and limestone banding."
The commission found that the existing buildings were not "architecturally notable in themselves" and had been altered over time and did not contribute to the special architectural character of the streetscape or the historic district.
It also found that that "the height of the primary facade of the new building will relate well to the other buildings in the streetscape; that the floor to ceiling heights of the new building will be proportional to those found on the adjacent buildings, and will support a relationship between the new building and its neighbors; that the facade of the new building will be composed in a traditional arrangement of base, shaft and termination which is characteristic of multi-story buildings in this historic district; that the details and fenestration of the facade, including cast stone intermediate cornices, and paired two-over-two wood windows, and brick paneled spandrels is in keeping with rhythm and pattern of primary facades of buildings of this size and scale found throughout the historic district; that the materials and finishes used for the facade will be harmonious with the materials of the streetscape and are consistent with the materials and the color palette found on many buildings within the Tribeca North Historic District; that the use of brick cladding and simple punched window openings on the lot line elevation will evoke the scale, materials and articulation of historic lot line facades; that the use of limestone and wood infill at the commercial base, with limited lighting and signage, is simple and understated, and is in keeping with utilitarian buildings found in the historic district; that the limited visibility of the top floor set back, visible only at an oblique angle from the west is consistent with the profiles of many buildings with rooftop bulkheads in the historic district; and that the proposed loggia, incorporating arched masonry opening and railings, while not typical of buildings in the historic district, will allow for the facade to achieve a height complimentary to the street wall and will maintain a well revolved fenestration pattern."
Architecture Critic
Carter Horsley
Since 1997, Carter B. Horsley has been the editorial director of CityRealty. He began his journalistic career at The New York Times in 1961 where he spent 26 years as a reporter specializing in real estate & architectural news. In 1987, he became the architecture critic and real estate editor of The New York Post.
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