383 Lafayette St., former home of Tower Video and recently the Student ID office for NYU will finally be getting some contextual attention and allowed uses in our M1-5b zone.
Its new use will be for NYU administrative offices. The building will function as an academic and student support center for matters such as financial aid counseling, admissions and international studies. The primary occupants of the building will be professional staff who will be supporting all the services on the ground floor. Based on previous community feedback, NYU has designed the entrance to be on the south end of the building on Lafayette Street.
On March 13th more than 25 residents of East 4th St., Lafayette St, and Great Jones St. met to review and discuss NYU’s plans for restoring the current building and the development of an addition on the adjoining lot on East 4th St. In addition, NYU presented the concept of a single, setback 5th floor addition which is still being analyzed and explored. The intended uses and proposed FAR for Block 531, Lot 20 (the parking lot is part of it) are consistent with the M1-5b area zoning, and the proposed FAR does not utilize the allowable community facility bonus.
The new building addition designed by Ennead Architects LLP., formerly Polshek Partnership, is highly contextual to its parent building as well as the architecture along East 4th St. Both restoration and the design of the new building will be reviewed at CB#2 Landmarks Committee (expected in May) and heard at the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
In addition to the discussion of the design there was considerable conversation regarding construction schedules, protocols and protection for the contiguous and adjacent buildings. Attention will also be made for the protection of the Merchants House Museum directly across the street from the new construction site.
In order for NYU to complete drawings for the interior fit out of the building they will need to expose several internal columns and structural members. This work will require interior abatement and removal of existing materials. Interior abatement of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floor is scheduled to start the week of April 14th. Removal of interior materials is scheduled to start late April/early May.
NYU, NoHo-Bowery Stakeholders, Inc. and other stakeholders contiguous and adjacent are working on a joint Memorandum of Understanding regarding the project, construction protocols and protections.