By Gabriela Resto-Montero
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
SOHO — The Department of Sanitation unveiled Tuesday a building design that neighbors think is beautiful.
Unfortunately for the department, though, many residents think the salt shed building proposed for the corner of Spring and West streets belongs somewhere else.
"It would be perfect out in the Utah Salt Flats or somewhere out in Arizona," said Frieda Bradlow, 78, who lives down the block from the proposed shed and said she liked the design.
"But across the street from the Holland Tunnel ventilation shaft, it's misplaced," Bradlow said at a Community Board 2 landmarks and public aesthetics meeting Tuesday night.
Architects with the department designed the 7,700 square foot building to resemble salt crystals after receiving directions from the Public Design Commission to make the shed look "sculptural" and "iconic."
"We've come up with a very novel design," said Dan Klein, director of real estate for the department at the meeting. "Something very different than what we've done with other salt sheds around the city."
Following community input, architects set the salt shed building farther back from the street, incorporated only one opening and added ventilation fans to the top of the structure, said Michael Friedlander, a department architect.
Although the department apparently took its cues on designing the modern-looking shed from the design commission, the building clashes with the historically designated district that surrounds it, said Doris Diether, co-chair of the committee.
Other residents were concerned that the salt would not be properly contained within the building and erode the facades of buildings nearby.
"We're led to believe this is simple table salt, it's not," said Richard Barry, a resident of the neighborhood. The salt is the kind used to de-ice roads and sidewalks during winter.
Construction of the shed, which is estimated to cost $10 million, and an adjacent waste disposal site were approved by the city over the objections of neighbors in January.
The board noted community concerns over airborne salt in its resolution.
Architects will present plans for the salt shed to the Public Design Commission for review Oct. 25.
