by Amanda Dorato

We expect developers to behave badly; sometimes they don’t. We expect artists to have overblown egos; often they do. We trust that they will be respectful towards their neighborhood — they’re “sensitive people”, after all. But lately, two of them haven’t been so caring.

Annie Leibovitz building.

Long home to creative spirits, Greenwich Village is entitled to a little respect. A few years ago photographer Annie Leibovitz bought a house at 755-575 Greenwich Street. In October 2002 illegal construction work caused a common wall within the house at 311 W. 11th Street to sink. This structural misadventure threatened a building collapse. In 2003 Leibovitz settled a $15 million dollar lawsuit with the owners of the damaged building — she purchased it as part of the settlement. For a while, the buildings remained derelict; rats moved it. Reportedly, interior repairs are now done, but work is unfinished and all is not rosy. Leibovitz, while welcomed all over the chic world, is a local pariah.

Days after the demolition of the historic townhouse at 163 Charles Street, artist Julian Schnabel, described as a “sweet guy,” struck a body blow with plans to build a tower extension above his 3-story building at 360 W. 11th St., a 90-year-old former carriage house near Washington Street. Evidently, “cash trumps history.” Preservation minded Villagers responded on January 25 by demonstrating outside the building. They assert that this addition would be bewilderingly out of scale with the the nearby Greenwich Village Historic District. Ironically, a February New York Magazine montage shows Schnabel and Richard Meier, West Village high-rise builder, at the same gallery opening — cruel coincidence.

Julian Schnabel's house on 11th Street

Schnabel, who achieved fame with canvases of paint slathered over broken plates, evidently has a penchant for breaking things and decided to “bust the building” that he has used as his home and studio since 1997. The addition will be incorporated into the existing structure rising 167 ft. in height. With 6 apartments on 9 floors the first floor will contain a pool and the third will have medical offices. Under the city’s community facilities zoning allowance the medical offices allow the extra height.

According to The Villager, “Andrew Berman, director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, contends Schnabel should not be granted approval of the plans; they are based on approved plans from 1995 by the building’s previous owner to add a two-story penthouse. As it is now, he said, Schnabel is trying to “railroad” through the application…. Berman dropped a letter through Schnabel’s mail slot, asking that “as an artist” he show some consideration.” Nobody involved with the project — not Schnabel, his spokesperson nor his architect wants to talk about it.

His neighbors have something to say. Alexia Lalli who lives on Perry Street directly behind the Schnabel building will have her light appreciably diminished by the new addition, but she is not antagonistic specifically towards Schnabel. Ms. Lalli, a member of the 1986 West Side Task Force, says, “There are lots of opportunistic people. At the time (1986) we were concerned that zoning should be designed to avoid a wall of high rises overlooking the projected new park. We are now getting that wall of high rises. This area should receive landmark protection and have the proper zoning; a better review process for any intended construction needs to be established. It’s a shame that Mr. Schnabel’s business acumen is getting the better of his artistic side.”

The housebreaking of puppies relies on a cardinal rule — “You don’t mess where you live.” But artists aren’t puppies. They’re sensitive people, aren’t they?