Resolutions: December 2006

WHEREAS, The building at 182 West 58th Street, on the southeast corner of Seventh Avenue, designed in the French Renaissance-style by Harde & Short and constructed as The Alwyn Court Apartments between 1907 and 1909; and

WHEREAS, On June 7, 1966, the Alwyn Court Apartments was designated as an Individual Landmark, by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission; and

WHEREAS, The applicant, the restaurant Petrossian, who is the tenant on the ground floor, was served violation # WL05-0621, for the installation of awnings at the storefront windows on the West 58th Street and the Seventh Avenue elevations of 182 West 58th Street; and

WHEREAS, The applicant seeking to cure this violation had the architect serving on their behalf present the application at two Landmarks Committee meetings; and

WHEREAS, The applicant has exhibited historic photos that indicate that the first of the window awnings was installed on 182 West 58th Street around 1984, however the applicant has not been able to provide any documentation that permission for this installation was granted by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission; and

WHEREAS, Subsequently, additional window awnings were installed, currently resulting in six at the West 58th Street elevation and another six at the Seventh Avenue elevation, without permission of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission; and

WHEREAS; The applicant has not made an effort to remove the existing illegally installed window awnings; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That since the awnings were not part of 182 West 58th Street at the time of designation, they are deemed illegal, and should be removed, and Community Board Five recommends denial of the application to legalize the awnings.

The above resolution passed with a vote of 32 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention.  

WHEREAS, The Marble Collegiate Church, designed by architect Samuel L. Warner, located at 270 Fifth Avenue aka 1 West 29th Street, was built in 1854, designated by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1967, is one of the four Collegiate Churches of New York City, and is America’s oldest Protestant church with a continuous ministry since 1628; and

WHEREAS, It has been described “as a distinguished example of early Romanesque revival church architecture with an impressive tower and spire,” and

WHEREAS, It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; and

WHEREAS, When the church opened in 1854 the windows were clear unadorned glass, later changed to diamond panes of blue-green and amber colored glass and now there are 10 sanctuary stained glass windows; and

WHEREAS, There is now a master plan for the windows on the 5th Avenue façade; and

WHEREAS, They are now proposing to remove the center mullion from the center window above the entrance to the church so as to install one large stained glass window; and

WHEREAS, The removal of the mullion “will enable the artist to design a window without obstruction, with proper scale and without altering the overall appearance of the window when viewed outside of the church”; and

WHEREAS, This window is not visible from the interior of the church and will only be visible from Fifth Avenue and will be, according to the church, softly illuminated during the day until approximately 10p.m.; and

WHEREAS, Community Board Five would like to see the removed windows saved; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of the application for the removal of the center mullion from the window above the Fifth Avenue entrance to the Marble Collegiate Church.

The above resolution passed with a vote of 31 in favor, 1 opposed, 3 abstentions. 

WHEREAS, 224 Fifth Avenue is a six-story commercial building on a 28ft lot that is located in the Madison Square North Historic District, on fifth Avenue between 26th and 27th Streets and is located between two other six-story buildings; and

WHEREAS, 224 Fifth Avenue was constructed as a residential building in the mid 19th century, then converted to commercial use in the late 19th century when its original facade was replaced by a commercial facade which was later entirely replaced in 1981-82; therefore be it

RESOLVED, Because the design for the proposed building to be constructed on the site has not been approved by Community Board Five, and it is in the interest of the community to retain the existing building instead of having an empty lot, Community Board Five recommends denial for the request to demolish 224 Fifth Avenue.

The above resolution passed with a vote of 23 in favor, 12 opposed, 2 abstentions.  

WHEREAS, According to the New York Times, countless landmarked properties throughout the city are not correctly listed on the Department of Buildings database thus allowing the owners of said properties to receive permits to alter or demolish their properties; and

WHEREAS, The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation discovered that many designated properties in Greenwich Village are either improperly listed or not listed as landmarks at all in the Department of Buildings database; and

WHEREAS, Community Board Five is gravely concerned that this could lead to the demolition or façade alteration of some of our City’s treasured landmarks; therefore be it

RESOLVED, Community Board Five urges the Department of Buildings and the Landmarks Preservation Commission take immediate action to verify that all landmarked properties are properly listed and brought up to date in the Department of Building’s database; and be it further

RESOLVED, Community Board Five urges the Buildings Department and Landmarks Preservation Commission to work more closely and efficiently to ensure that demolition and façade alteration permits are not issued for designated properties or for properties being considered for designation; and be it further

RESOLVED, Community Board Five requests assistance from the Manhattan Borough President’s office, to help identify improperly categorized properties, and to inform the Buildings Department and the Landmarks Preservation Commission of the findings so that no designated buildings are mistakenly altered or demolished.

The above resolution passed with a vote of 37 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstention.  

WHEREAS, Community Board Five takes its role in the review of street activity permits applications seriously; and

WHEREAS, The applicant for the above referenced request was invited, yet failed to attend Community Board Five’s Consents & Variances Committee meeting on Thursday, December 14th, at 5:00p.m. to answer any questions the committee may have regarding the application; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends denial of the application Diversity Foundation for a street festival permit on Madison Avenue, between 23rd to 26th Streets on Sunday, September 16, 2007.

The above resolution passed with a vote of 35 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention.  

WHEREAS, Community Board Five takes its role in the review of applications for Newsstand seriously; and

WHEREAS, The applicant for the above referenced request was invited, yet failed to attend Community Board Five’s Consents & Variances Committee meeting on Thursday, December 14th, at 5:00p.m. to answer any questions the committee may have; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends denial of the application for a newsstand at the N/W/C of West 53rd Street.

The above resolution passed with a vote of 35 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention.  

WHEREAS, An application was made for the operation of a physical culture establishment/spa  by Serenety Wellbeing Inc. at 23 West 45th Street; and

WHEREAS, The establishment will be located on the third floor of a commercial building; and

WHEREAS, The area was posted and a site visit was done by a Consents & Variances Committee member; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of the application for a physical culture/spa at 23 West 45th Street.

The above resolution passed with a vote of 31 in favor, 4 opposed, 1 abstention. 

WHEREAS, A request was made by Rihga Royal Hotel/London NYC for a distinctive sidewalk at 143-157 West 54th Street; and

WHEREAS, The proposed request is for 24" x 24" x 2" stone pavers at the main entrance to the building; and

WHEREAS, The materials to be used will be tested and required to conform to the Department of Transportation's slip resistance regulations; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of the application for the installation of a distinctive sidewalk at 143-157 West 54th Street.

The  above resolution passed with a vote of 34 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention, 1 present not entitled to vote.