Manhattan city commissioners on Tuesday approved moving forward with the Museum of Art and Light project despite questions emerging about its impact on historic aspects of downtown. The commission unanimously overturned the Historic Resources Board’s denial of the planned museum. In addition to disagreeing with the board’s view that the nonprofit museum would have a harmful effect on the Downtown Historic District, commissioners also cited that the $44 million museum would generate too much economic benefit to stop it now. During its March 28 meeting, the board voted to deny the project 3-2, finding that the project, set to be built on Third Street between Houston and Pierre streets, would damage or destroy historic resources. Board members said they were concerned about the museum’s height relative to other buildings in the immediate area. Plans call for the museum to be 65 feet tall.
Source: themercury.com
