NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Thinking about toasting Carrie Bradshaw with a cosmo while posing on the front steps of her iconic Manhattan brownstone from 鈥淪ex and the City?鈥�
Think again.
The city's Landmarks Preservation Commission approved an application for a gate Tuesday after Barbara Lorber, who has owned the building since 1978, lamented 鈥渢he endless presence of interest in my celebrity staircase.鈥� The stately three-story building in Greenwich Village's historic district was used for exterior shots of the apartment occupied by Bradshaw, played by Sarah Jessica Parker.
鈥淚鈥檇 hoped for literally decades that this would pass,鈥� Lorber told the commission during heartfelt testimony. 鈥淏ut at this point, I think even someone as stubborn as I am has to admit that this isn鈥檛 going away in the near future.鈥�
The stoop has been chained off with a 鈥渘o trespassing鈥� sign. But one neighbor told the commission that the chain has failed to deter fans of the show, who create a nuisance on the block.
Eight commission members unanimously approved the application, which is a necessary step in the historic West Village neighborhood. Lorber's architect will work with commission staff on a final gate design.
鈥淪ex and the City鈥� followed the exploits and relationships of Bradshaw and her three pals for six seasons beginning in 1998. The show spawned two movies and the sequel series 鈥淎nd Just Like That 鈥︹��
Anthony Gillbee of Melbourne, Australia, had a picture taken with his teen-age son on the sidewalk in front of the brownstone Wednesday to send to his wife. He said he understood that it would be annoying to have people out in front of your house all the time.
鈥淏ut, you know, it鈥檚 an iconic venue,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd if you put a gate at the front, it would change the whole appearance of it. And so it wouldn鈥檛 be Carrie Bradshaw鈥檚 house anymore.鈥�
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Hill reported from Altamont, New York.
Joseph B. Frederick And Michael Hill, The Associated Press
