Sunday, March 15, 2026

Proposal for development next to Merchant’s House goes before the LPC Tuesday


As reported last month, there are new plans for a 9-story mixed-use building at 27 E. Fourth St. between the Bowery and Lafayette. 

For the past 15-plus years, Kalodop II Park Corp. has been trying to put in a new development at the current site of a one-level garage that stores food carts.

The developers need approval of a zoning text amendment and special permits to facilitate the building. Last month, Community Board 2's Landmarks Committee disapproved the plan. 

On Tuesday afternoon, the plans go before the Landmark's Preservation Committee. The hearing is at 253 Broadway, 2nd Floor. (Attendees should arrive by 1:15 p.m. Testify info here.) You can also watch via Zoom at 2 p.m. You can also send an email to the LPC. 

Preservationists, not to mention the leadership of Merchant's House, the circa-1832 building, were concerned that the construction could permanently damage the structure, one of only six residences in NYC that is both an exterior and an interior landmark. 

As Museum officials have noted about the latest proposal: "New research has revealed that the 1832 Merchant's House is an intact site of the Underground Railroad. If the LPC approves the development, this piece of history will be gone forever. We can't let our history be destroyed!"
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3 comments:

  1. ------mMarch 15, 2026 at 3:40 PM

    participate....save invaluable n.y. history !!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMarch 15, 2026 at 3:46 PM

    Does anyone know if Chobani ever moved in to that huge building across the way from Merchant's House? I have yet to see anyone come in or out...The fact that they're proposing building *another* office space next to this fragile landmarked building when there is a whole tower sitting empty right across the street is ridiculous.

    ReplyDelete
  3. brianMarch 15, 2026 at 5:25 PM

    Hot take but this lot AND the plaza on the other side of the merchants house should be used for housing. The Merchant's House does not need to be taking up that much space.

    ReplyDelete

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