9-Story Hotel Proposed for Parcel Adjacent to Merchant’s House

It was once a one-story garage and repair shop built in 1945-46 by Herman Kron. In recent years, the mid-block structure at 27 East Fourth Street has been a depot for food cart vendors. Now its fate is likely a nine-story boutique hotel.

According to the folks at GVSHP and the Bowery Alliance of Neighbors, a developer is seeking to construct a nine-story hotel onsite. Since the parcel is directly adjacent to the historic Merchant’s House Museum (1832), many are rightly concerned by this latest news.  Especially in light of claims that neither neighbors nor the museum itself were notified of plans until the CB2 Landmarks committee meeting last week. It was then that the developer won the needed endorsement.

Now preservationists are in scramble mode to stop the proposal, mustering the troops to attend the Landmarks Preservation Commission hearing tomorrow morning. There’s also a petition underway to the LPC to reject plans for the hotel.

The proposed building, at 9 stories tall (twice the height of the Museum) and without any setbacks, would overwhelm and detract from the special architectural and historic character of the Merchant’s House Museum. Its excessive size and bulk is not respectful of the historical context of the Museum and does not relate to its small scale.

We also request that the strictest of construction standards be applied to any proposed building on this site so that the structural integrity of the Merchant’s House is not in any way compromised.  Given the antiquity of the Merchant’s House and the extreme narrowness of the lot at 27 East 4th Street, this is critical.

If you plan to attend the 11 am meeting, head over to the Municipal Building, 1 Centre Street (at Chambers St), 9th floor.

[All photos via GVSHP]