Kushner fails to get LPC approval for Puck addition — again

alternate
text
Jared Kushner, a principal of the Kushner Companies, and the Puck Building
The Landmarks Preservation Commission again did not approve Kushner Companies’ proposal for a penthouse on top of the historic Puck Building at 295 Lafayette Street in Soho. The commission said it wanted further revisions to the scale and visibility of the rooftop addition to the 203,000-square-foot, mixed-use building between Houston and Jersey streets. The commission had previously rejected an even larger version of the proposal last month.

Though the LPC noted that it is open to an addition on the building, Chairman Robert Tierny said, “some rethinking is in order.”

“Were it to slip behind the parapets,” said Michael Devonshire, a commissioner with the LPC, “you could expand it in any way it wanted to and would not affect this iconic building in any way.” The parapets are the vertical extensions along the top edges of the building that help to make the actual roof less visible.

The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation said the decision was “the right thing.”

Sign Up for the undefined Newsletter

The commission did approve changes to the windows and openings of the ground-floor space along the Jersey Street side of the building. The retail space will be occupied by outdoor gear retailer Recreational Equipment.

Jared Kushner, principal of Kushner Companies, is planning to convert the top floors of the 10-story building into a six-unit, high-end condominium with apartments ranging from $15 million to $50 million. He wants a penthouse added on top of the existing structure.

“We will continue to work with LPC to find the right design for our addition,” a spokesperson for Kushner Companies said. “The Puck is a world-class building and deserves the proper consideration before being modified. We look forward to continuing the conversation.” — Adam Fusfeld