Architect Gets Green Light to Get Rid of Fire Escapes in SoHo Building

June 9, 2015 — Fire escapes. Who needs 'em? Not 69 or 71 Green Street in SoHo, according to architect Joseph Pell Lombardi, who has been pushing to remove them. DNAinfo reports that, despite pushback from the community and the New York City Fire Department, Lombardi has gotten the green light from the Department of Buildings (DOB) to remove the fire escapes from 69 Greene Street. So why does an architect who is described as "a preservation specialist" want to remove fire escapes that the building residents say "are an integral part of the block's character"? Well, Lombardi insists that "the fire escapes are not old enough to be considered historic, and that they are unsafe." Just so we're clear, residents are not kicking up a fuss simply because the fire escapes look pretty and have been part of the architectural landscape for a long time. They are genuinely concerned that losing "them would affect their ability to evacuate in the event of a fire." Take away the fire escapes and their only exit is an internal staircase. Made of wood. Uh… Granted, the buildings are being renovated, including said wooden staircase, and perhaps this is the reason why the DOB gave the go-ahead, despite written testimony submitted by an FDNY engineer "expressing misgivings about the fire escapes' removal." According to DNAinfo, the same FDNY engineer, John Yacovone, sent an e-mail Wednesday to the building's management company, Esquire Management, 'respectfully request[ing] that [they] cease and desist' with any alterations to the building geared toward the fire escape removal, after worried tenants reported construction workers nailing the door to the second floor fire escape shut last Monday." According to one of Lombardi's employees, the architect will learn this week whether he has the green light for 71 Greene Street.

Photo by Kate Leonova for Property Shark