The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday approved a request from a Manhattan homeowner to build a gate at the front of her so-called “celebrity staircase.”
The stairs are located in front of 66 Perry Street, a brownstone in the West Village that was built in 1866 but gained celebrity status more than a century later when it was used as the exterior set for Carrie Bradshaw's apartment in the HBO show “Sex and the “served city.”
Barbara Lorber became emotional as she explained to the board of commissioners the need to erect a gate that would protect her building and its tenants from the constant stream of fans loitering on the steps and taking photos.
“This house should not be fenced,” she said, “but what was beautiful in the late 19th century unfortunately needs more protection in our century, in our time,” she said. “I've been hoping for literally decades that this would go away, but at this point I think even someone as stubborn as me has to admit that this isn't going away any time soon.”
The brownstone is part of the Greenwich Village Historic District, meaning any updates to its facade must be approved. Ms. Lorber, who bought the three-family home in 1979, had submitted a letter to the commission requesting permission to build the gate, which would “conform to the existing authentic historic style.”
On Tuesday, architect Isidoro Cruz responded to Ms. Lorber's appeal with a presentation of his designs for a steel and cast iron gate that Ms. Lorber hopes will “enhance the beauty of the facade and not just look like a barrier.”
While the eight commission members present at the hearing unanimously approved the design, some said they would prefer a more minimalist, arch-less approach. It was decided that Mr. Cruz would work with them to find a solution.
After Mr. Cruz spoke, representatives from two historic preservation groups, Village Preservation and the Victorian Society of New York, testified that they supported the gate's design. The same was true for AJ Parker, a neighbor of Ms. Lorber, who described the scene at the stairs as “one of the most egregious situations when it comes to personal property being attacked all day, every day.”
“Sex and the City” ran on HBO from June 1998 to February 2004, but its cultural relevance remained thanks to two follow-up films, the 2021 spin-off show “And Just Like That…” and a move to Netflix that aired in 2021 April 2024 began to exist. The simultaneous emergence of social media, particularly Instagram, has made the iconic entrance hall a destination for countless fan photos and videos.
“Take as many photos as you want while standing on the street,” Ms. Lorber said Tuesday. “But please don’t climb into our room or our windows.”