In an important step in implementing the set of planning principles it developed with local elected officials and local community groups, NYU today announced it would support the landmarking designation of the high-rise Silver Towers complex, an NYU-owned property along Houston Street in Manhattan that was constructed in 1967.
NYU President John Sexton said, “The planning principles on which we collaborated with local elected officials and community groups are the standards to which we expect to be held. We believe this step is an important one that demonstrates our respect for the ‘ecosystem’ in which our University exists. Both we and our partners took a major step in developing a relationship of trust last week; we think the action we are announcing today makes real our intention to continue building that trust.”
The Landmarks Preservation Commission has indicated that it will begin consideration of landmarking the two Silver Towers buildings and 505 LaGuardia, the third tower in the I.M. Pei-designed complex. NYU owns the entire property; the two Silver Towers buildings principally house NYU faculty; the University ground leases the third tower to the 505 LaGuardia cooperative corporation.
Supporting the landmark designation is consistent with two of the agreed upon planning principles - employing a publicly oriented review process on an NYU project and sustaining the neighborhood’s character.