By Gabriela Resto-Montero
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MUNICIPAL DISTRICT— The city's Public Design Commission granted preliminary approval of designs for a new Hudson Square salt shed Monday.
Following the commission's directions to fashion an "iconic" building, Dattner Architects designed a 7,700 square foot shed that resembles the crystal facets of rock salt.
"We were really trying to marry one of the most quotidian and humble of functions, which is the storage of rock salt, with one of the most important intersections in the city," said Richard Dattner, principal architect on the project, at the hearing.
Area residents also found the design beautiful when it was first unveiled last month, but maintain that the salt shed is in the wrong location and could damage nearby Canal Street Park.
"Any extraneous salt leaving the premises is the concern of our community, said Michael Kramer, a resident and urban strategist who testified at the hearing.
Other community concerns included losing future development rights on the property, Kramer said.
"Just because this is a beautiful new design doesn't mean it's in the right place," he said.
The Public Design Commission will next meet Dec. 12, when it will review construction plans for the shed and issue a final decision on the project.
