City Council Unanimously Blocks Hotel Adjacent to Merchant’s House Museum
Breathe a sigh of relief.
Preservationists this week scored a major victory against a hotel developer whose plans would likely damage the two-century-old Merchants House Museum on East 4th Street.
The full New York City Council voted unanimously late Wednesday to reject proposed plans to construct an eight-story hotel immediately adjacent to the landmark.
As previously reported, developer Kalodop II Park is behind the push to replace the brick warehouse at 27 East Fourth Street ((built in 1945-46 by Herman Kron) with the boutique hotel. Museum staff and local preservationists were all along concerned about the impact this major construction would have on structural integrity of the Merchant’s House, which dates back to 1832 (home of the Tredwell family) and is considered New York City’s only 19th century family home preserved intact.
City Council blocked the proposal, essentially rubber stamping the conclusion found last week by both the Zoning and Franchises and Land-Use subcommittees.
Councilwoman Carlina Rivera, who represents the district in which the Museum is located, and previously expressed displeasure toward the project, ultimately stood in the way of approval.
It’s worth noting that the Landmarks Preservation Commission actually approved the hotel project in 2015, but it still had to go through the approval process. Ironically, LPC landmarked the structure in 1965, the first to receive the designation.
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