Gas Station In SoHo Now Part Of Historic District, Effectively Making It A 'Landmark'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - It's a pain in the gas to be the owner of one service station on Houston Street.
Marcello Porcetti owns the BP station at Houston and Lafayette streets.
Porcetti had hoped to convert the 11,000 square foot lot into a seven-story luxury condo development. However, New York City's Landmarks Preservation Commission decided that the station is part of the expanded historic district in SoHo, which was put in place to preserve ornate, cast iron buildings nearby.
The designation means Porcetti can't convert the lot into condos without a permit from the commission or other City agencies. He also has to interact with the city whenever he wants to make any significant changes to the station.
The New York Post reports that Porcetti had to get city approval to install new doors on a shed there. Further changes may require public hearings and input from the community.
What do you think of the decision to make the gas station part of the historic district? Sound off in our comments section below.
