After seven years, Landmarks approves controversial Canal Street apartment building
Revised Design for 312-322 Canal Street courtesy of Paul A. Castrucci Architects
For Trans World Equities and Paul A. Castrucci Architects, the third time is truly the charm. Nearly seven years after they first proposed a plan to replace a row of five buildings at 312-322 Canal Street with a residential building, the Landmarks Preservation Commission officially approved on Tuesday the duo’s revised design. The updated plan reduces the height of the building from nine to seven stories and mutes the color of the facade from a bright-red brick to terracotta. During the developer’s third presentation for LPC, the commissioners said the building’s rhythm and height will now fit better with the district, according to CityRealty.
Three separate proposals for 312-322 Canal Street since 2011; courtesy of Paul A. Castrucci Architects
The LPC first rejected the architect’s idea to renew the strip of shops on Canal Street because of its location in the Tribeca East Historic District. The original proposal called for Passive House certification, meaning the residence will be primarily heated by passive solar gain and internal gains with the aim of cutting energy costs by 90 percent. And in June, the commissioners were less than thrilled with the revised proposal calling it “out of scale” and “completely inappropriate.”
The revised design addresses the main concern of the LPC–the building’s facade–by adding cast-iron structures similar to 55 White Street and 340 Canal Street. The exterior now calls for more depth, with metal and terracotta elements and brick accents.
New floor plans call for a cellar level designed for storage as well as a bike room, with the first floor set aside for retail. It appears the building will contain 21 residences, including four apartments on floors 2-6 and one four-bedroom apartment on the 7th floor that will have its own terrace.
[Via CityRealty]
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