David Schwimmer
(Matthew McDermott)
A HOLE ON THE BLOCK: David Schwimmer bought this 1852 townhouse and demolished it – even though it was up for landmark status. (
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David Schwimmer isn’t making any friends in the East Village — and he hasn’t even moved in to the ’hood yet.
The former “Friends” star bought a beautiful East Village townhouse built in 1852 — and then promptly destroyed it just months after the city told him it was destined for landmark status.
The townhouse, at 331 E. 6th St., was one of the oldest on the block, and sat just two doors down from the Community Synagogue, a National Historic landmark.
Schwimmer, 45, snapped up the property for $4.1 million in 2010 — and the city Landmarks Preservation Commission send him notices on March 31 and May 27 of last year that it could get landmark status by the end of 2012, said commission spokeswoman Elisabeth de Bourbon.
But by September 2011, the building was gone, just four months after the city’s latest letter was sent to Schwimmer’s representatives.
Now the five-story building will be replaced by a six-story mansion with an elevator and roof terrace, records filed with the city show.
The building’s original listing said the 25-foot-wide townhouse had the zoning permits to grow from its current 7,750 square feet to 9,000 square feet. It added, “Please note, this lovely home needs work!”
Neighbors are furious at the actor, saying he’s just another greedy celebrity wrecking the character of the neighborhood in order to build a modern monstrosity.
“All the new people are yuppie transients. If I see David Schwimmer on the street, I’ll be sure to give him my two cents!” said Charlett Hobart, a retired independent contractor who has lived on the block for the past 37 years.
“People who have been living here a long time don’t like new people coming in” and tearing down old buildings, she explained.
Schwimmer bought the home through a limited-liability company, 331 East 6th Street Townhouse LLC. Although his name is not attached to the deal, sources briefed on the purchase confirmed that Schwimmer is the owner.
In addition, Schwimmer, the LLC manager Gary Kress and 331 East 6th Street Townhouse LLC all share the same Santa Monica, Calif., address.
Schwimmer, Kress and the project’s architect all didn’t return calls for comment. But future neighbors were willing to sound off.
Jay Russo, a city employee who grew up nearby, called the demolition “all very underhanded.”
“The Landmarks Commission is looking into these buildings, but before they are landmarked, people are coming in and tearing down the buildings,” Russo said.
Stan Distenfeld, 80, a retired radio announcer for WNYC who has lived in the neighborhood for 47 years, agreed.
“It seemed like overnight, the building just disappeared!” Distenfeld said.