Meatpacking District projects advance amid Landmarks approvals

Despite forceful opposition from preservationists, two major developments in the Gansevoort Market Historic District are moving forward.

The Landmarks Preservation Commission earlier this month approved retailer Restoration Hardware’s proposed development at 55 Gansevoort Street, Crain’s reported. The project will bring a 14-room guesthouse to the area, but plans did have to be revised to meet the commission’s requirements. In order to get approval, Restoration Hardware agreed to lower the height of a rooftop, and to hide a planned windscreen behind a fiberglass cornice.

Nearby on Gansevoort Street, developers Aurora Capital Associates and William Gottlieb Real Estate are working on turning five buildings between Washington Street and Ninth Avenue  into an 111,000-square-foot commercial development. In January, Hermes signed a lease to open a new 10,000-square-foot store there when the development is complete.

The development has raised the ire of the local community and preservation group, Save Gansevoort. Last month, a New York State Supreme Court justice ruled in favor of the group, and barred the developers from proceeding with certain types of work on 52-58 Gansevoort Street until a pending lawsuit is resolved.

Opposition group Save Gansevoort filed a lawsuit against the developers and the Landmarks Preservation Commission last year, seeking to stop what it described as a “massive, out-of-character development.” The group contends the commission should not have given approval for the project.

The developers expect there to be a resolution to the lawsuit in the next 60 days, according to Crain’s. Aurora and William Gottlieb Real Estate secured a $55 million loan for the project last month.  [Crain’s] — Miriam Hall