A one-story building in Greenwich Village will see a new life as a Mexican restaurant. On Tuesday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved a proposal to transform 255 Bleecker Street, most recently a sushi restaurant, into Tacombi – La Cornelia.
Historic Images of 255 Bleecker Street
The building, at the corner of Bleecker and Cornelia streets, was originally designed by E. Jerome O’Connor when it was built in 1941. But it has been altered over the years, most recently in 2003.
The new design, presented by Jordan Rogove of DXA Studio, will strip away the existing wood to reveal the original masonry. The windows and doors will be extended, signage will be applied, and lighting will be installed. There will also be skylights installed over the dining area.
255 Bleecker Street, with windows open. Colors not final.
The commissioners approved the use of steel in the windows and doors despite the fact that some might consider it a little out of place. However, they were not nuts for the colors, namely the white paint. So, the applicant will work with LPC staff on the color selections as well as the lighting design.
“This structure has had numerous inappropriate additions to its façade, including a pagoda, faux wood paneling, and faux stone. The Committee was glad to see these materials removed and the historic brick façade revealed,” the Historic District Council’s Kelly Carroll said. “HDC suggests wood, rather than metal for the infill, as the metal makes the building appear industrial.”
Cherie-Nicole Leo of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation said that the signage was out of place. Christabel Gough of the Society for the Architecture of the City pointed out that the structure was once home to a cheese shop run by Murray Greenberg of Murray’s Cheese and said that it need not be “so aggressively modernized.”
Evan Bindelglass is a local freelance journalist, photographer, cinephile, and foodie. You can e-mail him, follow him on Twitter @evabin, or check out his personal blog.
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