Landmarks approves new mansion on site of UES townhouse explosion

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday approved design plans for a new mansion on an Upper East Side site where a townhouse exploded 10 years ago.

The Woodbine Company plans to build a single-family, faux classical mansion on the vacant 34 East 62nd Street, 6sqft reported. The site was once home to Nicholas Bartha, a doctor who was suspected of tampering with a gas line in order to blow up his five-story townhouse to retaliate against his ex-wife. A judge had ordered Bartha to sell the house as part of their divorce settlement. He was inside when the home exploded and died five days later.

Now, almost 10 years later to the day, Landmarks has approved a 7,800-square-foot, five-story home for the site. Woodbine purchased the site last year for $11.9 million, considerably less than its $40 million listing price. Russian developer Janna Bullock had purchased the property a year after the explosion and filed plans for a new townhouse, but the plans ultimately fell through.

HS Jessup Architecture is designing the new home for Woodbine. [6sqft] — Kathryn Brenzel