LPC steps up East 10th Street meeting in response to Ben Shaoul

From left: the block of East 10th Street under consideration by the LPC and Magnum President Ben Shaoul

The Landmarks Preservation Committee’s meeting regarding the proposed designation of the East 10th Street Historic District in the East Village has been expedited, the New York Times reports.

The decision is being sped up in response to Magnum Real Estate Group’s application last week to add another floor to 315 East 10th Street, a building the firm recently purchased. Magnum is run by developer Ben Shaoul, and has purchased a number of buildings in the area recently. The building at 315 East 10th Street, on the northern border of Tompkins Square Park, would be taller than the other buildings on the park if approved, the Times said.

The Proposed East 10th Street district covers only the buildings on the south side of East 10th Street, facing Tompkins Square Park.

After a public hearing on Jan. 17, the LPC will vote on whether to landmark the buildings, which would prevent the rooftop addition from being built.

Another rooftop addition of Magnum’s, at an East 6th Street building, was the subject of three years of controversy before the Board of Standards and Appeals rejected the request for a variance two weeks ago, the Times said. [NYT]