Landmarks ok’s modern townhouse in UWS historic district

 In a rare move, the Landmarks Preservation Commission has told the designers of a new single-family, five-story limestone townhouse on the Upper West Side to forget the context of the neighborhood and build a modern structure.

The currently vacant property, which is located at 110 West 88th Street within the Central Park West Historic District, had previously seen its plans rejected by the local community board. But now the landmarks commission has actually told architect Jordan Rogove of DXA Studio to make the planned 4,778 square-foot home more modern, according to Curbed.

“Don’t worry about what’s next door, just do what you want to do,” Commissioner Joan Gerner told Rogove.

Initially, DXA Studio had attempted to compromise between historical and modern styles when approaching the property. However, the commissioners encouraged Rogove to abandon those plans for either something purely historical or strictly modern.

“You got to a fork in the road, and, instead of taking it, as Yogi Berra said, you went both ways,” Commission Chairman Robert Tierney said. [Curbed] –Christopher Cameron