Battle Is Over, but West Street Development Isn’t Rising Yet

It was the longest-running development battle in Tribeca history. Brewran West Associates fought for more than 10 years to win a zoning variance to put a hotel at 256 West St. Finally worn down by opposition from the Tribeca Community Association (TCA), the developers relented two years ago and agreed to develop a residential complex instead. The project would include a 14-story building at West Street, connected to a former warehouse at 416-24 Washington St.

Last month Brewran West received support from Community Board 1 to slightly modify its design for the building—changes required by the settlement of a lawsuit brought by the TCA’s Anita Murray. The city’s Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) and Landmarks Preservation Commission were expected to approve the changes.

But while the regulatory seas have parted, the project appears no closer to construction.

"Various financial developments in the last year have prevented us from building," Diedre Carson, an attorney for Brewran West, told the community board.

One of those developments was a recent decision by restoration architect Joseph Pell Lombardi to pass on his option to buy and develop the property.

"In the months following the [Sept. 11] disaster, banks were really frozen," Lombardi told the Trib. "They were uninterested in moving ahead with good-size development projects south of Houston Street."

Lombardi, who has been involved in many Tribeca projects, said he had been seeking $60–70 million for the development, which would cost about $100 million. He had prepared new designs for the residential building to make it more consistent with the architecture of the Tribeca North Historic District and the attached warehouse.
Marty Schiffman, a partner in Brewran West, said Lombardi’s withdrawal was "not an issue" as his company decides whether to sell the property, develop it alone, or find a partner.

"Overall, there’s no change in plans," said Schiffman. "Eventually, the building is going to be developed. We have every confidence in the site and in the neighborhood."

The TCA’s Carole De Saram said she is sorry that architect Lombardi is out of the project and she objects to plans for dark brown grout between the bricks. "We will have a 14-story dark hulking wall facing the historic district," she said.