To house his precious Porsches

Jerry Seinfeld is building a garage near his Manhattan home ­ at a cost of £1million.

He's planning a private 20-space parking lot in one of the most expensive areas of New York to house his collection of vintage Porsches.

It's already taken two years of delays and bureaucracy - and so far only the basement of the tiny 16ft by 50ft plot has been completed.

Seinfeld has also taken measures to ensure neighbours on West 83rd Street have been placated.

The New York Observer says the comedian has paid a week's salary for all the staff at a nearby yoga studio and an architects' firm so they could close while drilling was in progress.

However, he has been forced to pay $5,000 in fines for not appearing to face buildings adjudicators over three minor violatons.

Seinfeld's Porsche collection includes a £50,000 1957 Carrera and a restored £65,000 1958 Speedster.

In 1993, Seinfeld travelled to Stuttgart to receive the keys to a 1994 Speedster-the last model ever made - and once owned a 1956 Speedster 356 formerly owned by James Dean.

Published: 11 Mar 2002