A Little Off the Top? – “Illegal” Addition to be Removed
Image Courtesy of Landmark West!
As reported this week in the Wall Street Journal, an Upper West Side townhouse will have to demolish a top-floor addition (see shaded portion in above image) due to a lack of approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC).
In 2005, the owners (at that time) of the townhouse, 12-14 W. 68th St., received a permit from the Department of Buildings (DOB) to construct a 6th-floor penthouse addition. 15 years earlier, however, the Upper West Side/Central Park West Historic District was created. The Historic District covers this portion of West 68th St. Being in a Historic District, of course, requires approval from the LPC for any alterations to the façade of the building. No such approval was obtained from the LPC. (more…)
