Timeline of Damage to Leibovitz Properties*
- October 11, 2002 – work without a permit performed on
behalf of Annie Leibovitz at her buildings at 755 and 757 Greenwich Street
undermines a common wall with neighboring 311 West 11th Street.
The wall shifts and a chimney collapses in 311 West 11th Street,
filling the house with gas. The Department of Building declares the building
unsafe for occupancy, and the family which lives there is evacuated by fire
and rescue personnel, forced to leave their home and all their possessions
inside.
- Late October 2002 – floors in 311 West 11th
Street sink several inches, floor to ceiling cracks appear in the walls. The
Greenwich Street façade of the buildings visibly buckle, a diagonal crack
appears across the façade, and bricks are seen to fall onto the street.
- December, 2002 – with the onset of winter, no shoring up
of the buildings have been done to prevent further deterioration or collapse.
GVSHP calls upon Leibovitz to provide shoring, and requests that the
Department of Buildings either force Leibovitz to install shoring and do
repairs or have the City do them directly and bill Leibovitz. By the end of
the month, exterior shoring (still in place) is installed. However, with
freezing temperatures approaching, GVSHP asks Leibovitz and the City to
address unflushed pipes in 311 West 11th Street, which would freeze
and burst. No action is taken.
- December, 2002 – Leibovitz is given and pays a $500 fine
– the only penalty to date for her illegal work and lack of corrective action.
- December 24, 2002 – a snowstorm brings water damage into
the houses, ruining books and other property in 311 West 11th
Street.
- Winter, 2002-2003 – 755 and 757 Greenwich Street remain
open to the elements for one of the coldest, snowiest winters in recent
memory. Window openings have no covering whatsoever, and record snowfalls
prompt GVSHP to call upon the City and Leibovitz to secure the building and
commence repairs. No action is taken.
- February 7, 2003 – the owners of 311 West 11th
Street sue Leibovitz for $15 million in damages.
- Spring 2003 – record rainfall continues to pour through
the buildings without any action taken to secure the properties from the
elements. GVSHP again reaches out to Leibovitz’ representatives and the City
to push for repairs and restoration; none are undertaken. Bulging and cracks
on façade of buildings appear to worsen.
- August 2003 – GVSHP examines the file at the Landmarks
Preservation Commission to review work proposed by Leibovitz for the buildings
and the LPC’s response.
- September 2003 -- Leibovitz settles the lawsuit with the
owner of 311 West 11th Street and purchases the properties.
- September 10, 2003 – GVSHP writes to the Landmarks
Preservation Commission pointing out the continuing deterioration of the
buildings and several troubling issues regarding the file – several drawings
are missing, and a Certificate of No effect which was violated by the
original, illegal work is still in effect. No response is offered.
- September 19, 2003 – GVSHP is joined by State Senator
Tom Duane, City Council Member Christine Quinn, and Assembly Member Deborah
Glick in writing to the Department of Buildings and the Landmarks Preservation
Commission and asks for a meeting to discuss the lack of restoration work at
this site, and assurances that the LPC will not allow Leibovitz to demolish
all or part of the buildings but will require they be restored using original
materials from the building. No response is offered.
- October 7, 2003 – Citing broken promises by Leibovitz
and lack of response by the City, the Greenwich Village Society for Historic
Preservation and neighbors picket Leibovitz’ house 1 year after her illegal
work did serious damage to three landmarked properties where no restoration
has been done.
*Sources: GVSHP, Department of
Buildings, The Villager
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