Richard Morris Hunt's 1883 stable for Henry Marquand, at 166 East 73rd, has been thought unrestorable, because its later (1935?) bland stucco coating required the original brick to be hammered to a rough finish.

 

But now a new owner (bonus in 2005:  $10.5 million) is having the sutcco chipped off, exposing the brick, and then sanding (or somehow smoothing) the brick to its original smooth surface, although perhaps one-half inch farther back.  (All LPC approved.) My guess would be that Landmarks' theory is that it ain't gonna be any worse than it already is, and why not let this guy spend his bonus on a building.

 

Would a sealer be required in every case like this, or only some bricks? Unless somebody's come up with a new sealer that lets water out but not in, I think this guy (and his building) are going to be in deep....water.  Now everybody else can jump on me for being full of...water.