Developer tries to woo residents with design

The developer Coalco last year spent $21 million to buy two buildings on West 12th Street from designer Diane von Furstenberg, not knowing about an impending rezoning of the area that could limit building heights to 80 feet. Now, in an attempt to persuade area residents to allow an exception to the rezoning, Coalco has disclosed designs for a modern, glass cluster of townhouses designed by French architect Christian de Portzamparc. more [Sun]