48 Laight St - Condo

[Edward]

October 19, 2003
POSTINGS: Condominium Apartments at 48 Laight Street; In a Historic District, A Modern Building Is Designed to Fit In
By RACHELLE GARBARINE

When Dana Lee Sottile of DLSDesign began work on 48 Laight Street in the TriBeCa North Historic District, she wanted ''to design a modern building in an historic district rather than to do a reproduction of something done in the 1800's, which would have been bland and mediocre.''

When her design for a six-story condominium building with five full-floor lofts was presented to the 12 members of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2000 for review, their comments, recorded in a meeting transcript -- ''totally contemporary in design, but contextual in scale'' and ''proof that modern materials can complement historic materials and modern architecture can be built in historic districts'' -- were laudatory, and their approval unanimous.

Nevertheless, that plan never proceeded. Now a new owner has begun construction of the building, keeping its exterior design and increasing the number of apartments to nine. The units, with 1,400 to 1,900 square feet and one to three bedrooms, can be combined. There will also be a 2,300-square-foot penthouse and 4,000 square feet of retail space, said David Ennis, whose company, the Daten Group, started work last month on the $9 million building.

The building, for which Kutnicki Bernstein is the production architect, integrates iron-spot brick and stainless steel mesh with limestone and features such contemporary design details as a floating roof plane. Some local residents have expressed concern that the building is too modern. But Robert B. Tierney, chairman of the landmarks commission, said he was ''happy the building is finally moving forward in a way we approve.''

Mr. Ennis said he had obtained a variance to split the original 3,300-square-foot full-floor apartments. Andrew Heiberger, president of Citi Habitats, the sales agent, said preconstruction prices are to be $975,000 to $1.6 million for the apartments and $3 million for the penthouse. Sales are to start in December at the building, which is to be known simply by its address.

RACHELLE GARBARINE

[ZippyTheChimp]

http://www.48laight.com/

It's on the NE corner of Laight and Hudson Sts. I took this photo last summer. The entire Rotary area is starting to look really good.

[billyblancoNYC]

I think the exterior is completed on this one.

[ZippyTheChimp]

April 16, 2005.
Black brick and limestone.

[Edward]

The corner of Laight and Hudson Streets. 1 May 2005.

[chinman]

someone recently wanted to flip a contract to me for roughly $1k/sqft there.
of course i would have to foot the sponsor's legal/closing costs in that case as well. hard to stomach the seller pocketing this huge wad of cash.
also, car noise and exhaust fumes are abundant there.

here's another flip: http://citi-habitats.com/viewsales.php?adID=586000

[andi]

Does anyone know when this building is scheduled to be complete. It seems to be taking forever!

[BrooklynRider]

2096. They are adding one brick a year.

[ZippyTheChimp]

Sept 10, 2005

[Edward]

The most recent update at condos.wirednewyork.com now includes the condo sale prices for 48 Laight Street.

[pianoman11686]

A Test of Will





48 Laight Street is the building at the far end of the block.

[ablarc]

^ Grit for the plutocrats?

[lofter1]

The plutocrats don't seem to be too fond of the old paving stone sidewalks in this vicinity (hell on those spiked heels) ...

A story of similar stones offer an interesting historical footnote (see below) ...

No Love for Cobblestones From Urban Mommies

gothamist

Are new parents a little too worried about their $800 Bugaboos? Some Tribeca residents are petitioning to have cobblestone streets paved over to make them more pedestrian friendly. The Post reports that people who live at 44 Laight Street wanted to "rip up the [cobblestones] directly in front of the building and create a level sidewalk," while leaving others in tact. The community board rejected the proposal - and apparently didn't treat the idea with respect. The best quote is from the Landmark's Committee's Roger Byrom who said, "If you don't like cobblestones in TriBeCa, live on the Upper West Side."

***

American Memory

THE FIRST ABOLITION RIOT IN NEW YORK -- 1834.

On the 8th of July, 1834, the New York Sacred Music Society attempted to assemble, as was their wont, in Chatham street Chapel, for the purpose of practising sacred harmony. They found the place, however, filled with an audience of whites and blacks who had gathered to listen to an abolition address, and who obstinately refused to remove. But this was not all. The anger of the negroes was aroused in consequence of the request to remove, and they attacked several of the gentlemen with loaded canes and other implements, knocking some down and severely injuring others. The alarm was raised, crowds assembled, a fight ensued in the church, the congregation were expelled, and the building was closed.

On the 9th, three more riots occurred ... On the night of the 10th, the crowd again assembled and made their way to Dr. Cox's church, then on the corner of Laight and Varick streets, which they assaulted with stones, breaking the windows and doing a variety of mischief.

On the 11th, it broke out again ... A second attack was likewise made on Dr. Cox's church, and also the church of Rev. Mr. Ludlow, in Spring street. The latter was almost completely sacked, nearly the entire interior being torn up and carried into the street to erect barricades against the horse and infantry which had assembled at various rendezvous at an early hour, in compliance with the proclamation of the Mayor.

The excitement continued to increase. The bells were rung, and the Seventh (then the Twenty-seventh) regiment, under Col. Stevens, charged upon the rioters, driving them from their position an clearing Spring street. The crowd next proceeded to the residence of Rev. mr. Ludlow, whose family had retired, and after breaking the windows and doors, left the ground.

Later in the night an immense riot occurred in the neighborhood of the Five Points. St. Phillip's Episcopal Church (colored), in Center street, was nearly torn down, while several houses occupied by negroes in the vicinity were entirely demolished. Several days elapsed before quiet was effectually restored.