Developer Wants to Use Landmarked Church's Air Rights to Build Bigger, Jagged Building in 'Burg

A crooked, twisting residential building rising next to a landmarked church in Williamsburg is about to go in front of the LPC.

The building, already under construction at 329 Broadway (or 304 Rodney), will stand next to the St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at 306 Rodney Street, which is an individual landmark. At a hearing this morning, Landmarks will consider the developer’s plan to use the air rights and easements of the neighboring church to build a taller building.

Renderings show a jagged four-story base, with a terrace on the fourth floor. The 12 stories above have a wavy, haphazard quality and a lot of windows for maximum sunlight around the semi-cylindrical facade. Irregular edges, jumbled massing and mismatched struts give it a malevolent and somewhat confused air.

Part of the new plan includes growing the building from the current 26,027 square feet to 57,629 square feet. If the plans are approved, the developer will add a rooftop terrace and sky bridge to the building next door.

Syndicate Architecture is the architect of record, and the developer is Juda Klein of Parkview Management, who purchased the formerly empty lot for $4.7 million in 2013. Li/Saltzman, known for its preservation work, created a presentation for the project for the LPC.

Restoration and maintenance of the church, including the stained glass windows, will be funded by the sale of the air rights and easements, according to the project overview for the hearing. The new building abuts the elevated J/M/Z tracks.

What do you think of the plans?

[Renderings via NY Landmarks Commission]

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