David Schwimmer Demolishes Historic East Village Building To Build New Mansion

It's been quite some time since David Schwimmer and his $1 million-an-episode Friends gathered at Central Perk, but don't expect the actor to be making up for lost time bonding with his new neighbors in the East Village either.

To the wrath of many community members, The Post confirmed on Monday that Schwimmer is the owner of a new six-story mansion that has replaced a historic townhouse that was headed for landmark status.

The new mansion will see the installment of an elevator and a swanky roof terrace.

The original building, located at 331 E. Sixth Street, was erected in 1852 and had been the oldest structure on the block between 1st and 2nd Avenues.

Schwimmer purchased the property for $4.1 million back in 2010 and soon after, received multiple letters from the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission notifying Schwimmer that the building would be up for the historic status in 2012.

But in September, East Village residents were shocked to find the building completely demolished. Neighborhood residents and bloggers speculated over the identity of the new owner and soon pinned the demolition on Schwimmer.

With Monday's confirmation, residents are pitting their anger towards the actor. One resident who has lived on the block for 37 years said, "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."

Meanwhile, the Coen brothers have politely requested permission from East Village residents if they could temporarily dress storefronts and buildings to "fit the period" of a 1960's set for their upcoming film Inside Llewyn Davis. If only Schwimmer had been so courteous.

Below are two diagrams of Schwimmer's proposed construction for 331 E. Sixth Street:

Comments

[Jerry Rella]

04:57 PM on 02/27/2012

Landmarks should force him to restore the entire building back to its original condition. . .

[Gregory May]

10:09 PM on 02/10/2012

Was my favorite 'friend'...not no more.

[Alana Coons]

04:53 PM on 02/10/2012

People like this.. and its all types I'm not saying actors.. generally those with money but no critical thinking skills...or style, or understanding of sense of place or any thought for the greater community.
And how much you want to bet he claims to environmentally sensitive too and does some kind of faux green building too! Even tho almost every school child can tell you that the greenest building is the one already built!

[David Nieves]

07:16 AM on 02/10/2012

In the minds of some individuals consideration is lost. They feel that money inherently speaks for
for a community, Regardless of laws and regulations protecting the integrity of a community. To ask
permission is to forfeit that right that money inherently contains. There are many cases circumventing laws. At least, the building did not collapse or burn down overnight achieving his goal and possibly endangering lives. A method we've seen in the past in this great City!

[time2impeach]

01:08 PM on 02/10/2012

There was nothing undertaken here contrary to the laws and regulations of NYC. The article is sensationalist and poorly researched. The fact is that the LPC was advising ALL owners in the area of a PENDING Landmark District status. That can take a year or two to be enacted. The building was NOT being cited for any particular merit itself.

Celebrity or not, wealthy or not, he did nothing wrong, and no laws were circumvented.

[Elizza G]

09:46 PM on 05/16/2012

The issue is the lack of sensitivity and lack of appreciation of history. Just because an act does not break a law it is not, therefore, a good, or even acceptable act. If legality were the last measure of worth, we would be a sad society.

[Ainsi sera groigne qui]

12:15 AM on 02/09/2012

Huffingtonpost's writers/bloggers once again prove they are so far to the left as to be coming around to the right.

First the building was and still will be a townhouse. Only those with grand aspirations and or seeking to stir up trouble would call a narrow row house dwelling a "mansion" no matter how much the property costs.

Second how exactly does an area wake-up surprised that a building has been demolished? Did gremlins quietly dismantle the property overnight? Did an advanced culture alien come to earth during the night and evaporate the structure?

Work was proceeding on that property for days and long as proper permits were had and no other known laws were being broken there would have been little the "surprised" residents of East Sixth Street or anyone else could have done.

Anyone whom owns property in NYC knows the drill. Once informed by the LPD they are considering one's building or area there is a limited amount of time to make a decision. Should one have other plans for the place that include any structural or similar changes up to and including tearing down and putting up something else, the time to act is *now*.

Mr. Schwimmer paid good money for that property with plans that did not include living in a run down several year old building . The shocked area long term residents (likely renters) should have passed the hat and purchased the building if there that concerned about it's fate.

[David Nieves]

05:57 PM on 02/10/2012

Well, I wonder why we race at all!

[Matt12]

11:08 PM on 02/08/2012

How's that different from the real estate "moguls" who have destroyed New York at large? The neighborhoods that made NY, NY are gone! In their place we have bland glass, mezuzah filled, glass monstrosities without distinction or soul

[time2impeach]

04:27 PM on 02/08/2012

There was absolutely nothing of merit in the building that was torn down - either on the exterior or the interior. The demolition was as-of-right, and the owner has no obligation to secure the approval or blessings of his neighbors, provided he/she conforms to the laws and regulations that govern construction in the city. Its the American way, and its completely un-American of anyone to suggest that operating well-within the bounds of laws as enacted is somehow unethical.

Bear in mind also that the "historic townhouse headed for landmark status" was not being cited for its own particular merit, but rather was one of hundreds of buildings in the proposed Landmark District. Architecturally, there was nothing to see here. Move along...

[Bill227]

09:04 AM on 02/16/2012

oh listen to you tell us what is american and what isn't... haha... thanks for letting us know what an american is, we wouldn't want to contradict you!

[Economike]

02:42 PM on 02/08/2012

Anybody who would tear down a building that has survived since the Civil War doesn't have enough music to make his soul dance.

[pynecastle]

02:12 PM on 02/08/2012

So now the second oldest building on the block has bragging rights. You lose a few and you win a few. Get over it.

[realitybaby]

11:10 AM on 02/08/2012

just because u can doesnt mean you should!

[bestmugshots]

10:15 AM on 02/08/2012

In 50 years, this new building will be old and someone else will be looking to demolish it and yet others will be looking to protect it. Get over it.

[extet]

01:29 AM on 02/08/2012

In the 70's most of the area looked like a war zone with drugs everywhere. I can't see how that building wasn't affected by the times. Plus city planning approved it, and it slipped right through the community board

[stepfordhusband]

10:06 AM on 02/08/2012

The East Village was a mess when I moved here in 1981 but I have seen an amazing transformation over the years in renovation and restoration of the buildings and neighborhoods. I am baffled why this man would want to live on this block in this neighborhood, If he had attempted this in Greenwich Village there is no way he would have succeeded. The east village is one of the remaining neighborhoods where buildings are low, 5 or 6 stories, they is plenty of light, air and we don't live in a canyon like most in Manhattan.

[madgrrl]

11:51 PM on 02/07/2012

who gave the ok for demolition?

[robjh1]

10:30 PM on 02/07/2012

Wait a minute this part of the story makes no sense: "But in September, East Village residents were shocked to find the building completely demolished." How the heck where they shocked after the fact? Didn't they see it going down? Geez!

[sipiony2]

08:29 PM on 02/07/2012

wow. Way to give out schwimmer's address

[Bill227]

09:05 AM on 02/16/2012

now we can urinate on his sofas, take the property back for the PEOPLE!