By Albert Amateau
The city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission didn’t like the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s design for the Mulry Square emergency ventilation plant any better than Community Board 2 did.
The L.P.C. voted unanimously on June 14 for a negative advisory report on the design that has been kicking around for three years for the proposed fan plant at Seventh Ave. South and Greenwich Ave.
But the L.P.C. has no authority to compel the M.T.A., a state agency, to design a building that meets New York City landmark standards in the Greenwich Village Historic District.
The M.T.A. has said it takes the landmark advisory seriously, but the agency only has funds to make little more than minimal changes to the design of a plant intended for emergency ventilation for a stretch of the I.N.D. subway line under Greenwich Ave., and a stretch of the I.R.T. line under Seventh Ave. South.
The M.T.A. said on Monday that it is examining the L.P.C. recommendations “to determine if we can address any of their issues.”
An M.T.A. spokesperson said, “This is a critical safety project that needs to move forward. We have worked with Community Board 2 and local elected officials for several years throughout the environmental review and the design process toward a positive outcome. ”
In deference to the historic district, the plant’s windowless, concrete facades are to be partially masked by a screen hanging 6 inches in front of the wall, simulating a brick residential building, with windows of real glass.
Despite their negative report, Landmarks commissioners acknowledged the difficulty of siting a ventilation plant at a prominent intersection in the historic district.
“I haven’t seen a problem harder to solve than this one,” said Frederick Bland, appointed to the commission three years ago. But all eight commissioners urged the M.T.A. to design a building true to its use rather than an imitation of the surrounding buildings.
“It is better to try an approach that reflects what you’re doing. There are ways to do that,” said Commissioner Roberta Washington.
“Be honest in what it is,” added Commissioner Joan Gerner.
Nevertheless, Commissioner Michael Goldblum said the building might work with a well-designed screen.
Representatives from elected officials, including Council Speaker Christine Quinn, urged the M.T.A. representatives to heed the Landmarks commission.
