On October 7th, a lawsuit was filed by Save Gansevoort, a local group of Meatpacking District residents who have fought for years to preserve the historic character of the Gansevoort Street area.
The focus of the lawsuit is a decision by the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) to permit the construction of two tall, out-of-scale commercial-residential buildings on the south side of Gansevoort Street, between Greenwich and Washington Streets.
At issue is an effort to replace two buildings, at 60-68 Gansevoort and 70-74 Gansevoort, known as the Market Buildings. The LPC decided to allow the Market Buildings to be demolished because, 50 years prior to its development as a meat market, the area was dotted with tenements. Save Gansevoort is arguing that the historical Meatpacking District was designated as a protected area in 2003 based on its historical significance and architectural value as a market district, with its one-to-two-story market architecture along the south side of Gansevoort Street as its signature feature.
The case will be heard in November or December and could have a profound impact on future development in the Meatpacking District.
—Arthur Z. Schwartz
