Resolutions: June 2005

WHEREAS, Rothmann’s 54th Street, LLC has filed an application for a unenclosed small sidewalk café for 4 tables and 8 seats at 3 East 54th Street; and

WHEREAS, The applicant has agreed to remove the planters, so as not to impede the flow of pedestrians; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of the application by Petra Rothmann’s 54th Street, LLC, for a small unenclosed sidewalk café.

The above resolution passed with a vote of 16 in favor, 10 opposed, 1 abstention.  

WHEREAS, The Pakistan Day Parade and Fair Committee Inc. has filed an application for a street festival on Sunday, August 28, 2005, on Madison Avenue, between 23rd and 26th Streets; and

WHEREAS, Community Board Five takes its role in the review of applications for Street Fairs/Festivals seriously; and

WHEREAS, The applicant was invited to the Community Board Five’s Consents and Variances Committee on Thursday, June 9, 5:00p.m. and the Full Board meeting also held on Thursday, June 9, at 6:00p.m. to present their proposal for review, but did not show up until 7:00p.m.; therefore, Community Board Five was unable to determine the answers to a number of questions; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends denial of the application by the Pakistan Day Parade and Fair Committee Inc.

The above resolution passed with a vote of 26 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention. 

WHEREAS, World Outreach has filed an application to hold a block party on Saturday, September 10, 2005, on 14th Street and Broadway; and

WHEREAS, This is a new applicant; and

WHEREAS, Community Board Five is concerned about traffic in this area, which is compounded when this major thoroughfare is closed; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends denial of the application by World Outreach to hold a block party at the above location, and urges the Street Activity Permit Office work with the applicant to find a more suitable and less used location.

The above resolution passed with a vote of 26 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention. 

WHEREAS, India Abroad has filed an application to hold a Tourism Expo on Thursday, June 30, 2005, on 24th Street, between Madison and Park Avenues; and

WHEREAS, India Abroad is a new applicant; and

WHEREAS, Community Board Five is oversaturated with street fairs/festivals and has major concerns about traffic when a major thoroughfare is closed; and

WHEREAS, Community Board Five would like to see new applicants directed to more suitable and less used locations; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends denial of the application by India Abroad to hold an event at the above location.

The resolution passed with a vote of  25 in favor, 1 opposed, 1 abstention. 

WHEREAS, The remaining storefront at 16 West 23rd Street located in the Ladies’ Mile Historic District is in very poor condition and the applicant plans to restore what is left of the original and replicate what is missing; and

WHEREAS, The existing three transoms above and behind the façade are original and will be restored; and

WHEREAS, The recessed 18-inch entrance will be restored and the doorway will be of wood surround; and

WHEREAS, The security gate will be inside the storefront, and the entrance will be accessible; and

WHEREAS, In the applicant’s proposal, the existing slanted storefront would be eliminated and returned to its historic lot line configuration; and

WHEREAS, The façade of the storefront will be sandstone stucco, grayish in color, and the “butted glass” for use in the store windows is not considered historic, and the applicant has agreed to consider not using it; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of the new storefront infill at 16 West 23rd Street.

The above resolution passed with a vote of 26 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention. 

WHEREAS, The polished black granite entrance at 20 West 22nd Street, a neo Renaissance building in the Ladies’ Mile Historic District, was installed in the 1950’s, replacing the original entrance; and

WHEREAS, The applicant seeks to remove one stone at the top of the entrance on which a three dimensional metal building number is attached and replace it with a glass pane into which the numeral twenty will be etched; and 

WHEREAS, The applicant also seeks to install over the entryway, a black anodized aluminum canopy, 10 ft above the sidewalk, 4 feet deep and 10 inches thick, which will include a single recessed down light, and will match the materials in the doorway; therefore be it

RESOLVED that Community Board Five recommends approval of the application to alter the entrance and construct a canopy at 20 West 22nd Street.  

The above resolution passed with a vote of 26 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention.    

WHEREAS, N.Y. Marble & Ceramic is seeking a Certificate of Appropriateness to legalize a flagpole and banner placed at the 2nd story of this Italianate-style rowhouse, which was built in 1854 and altered with the addition of a two-story cast iron storefront in l898; and

WHEREAS, There is another flagpole and banner at a slightly different location on the 2nd floor of this building and the legality of this signage is questionable; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five does not recommend the legalization of this current signage at 24 West 23rd Street located within the Ladies’ Mile Historic District, and suggests that the applicant return to the Landmarks Preservation Commission to inquire about alternative and historically appropriate signage, such as a bracket sign.

The above resolution passed with a vote of 26 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention.  

WHEREAS, The application is to change one blade sign at the south corner of the Paramount building between 43rd and 44th Streets; and

WHEREAS, The size of the revolving sign will remain the same - 30 ft high, 11 ft wide, and 2 feet deep - with only the logo changing to Hard Rock Café, with a two-faced guitar accented with neon lighting; and

WHEREAS, The armature from which the sign hangs will also remain the same; and

WHEREAS, This sign and a similar one at the north corner were originally approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission some time ago; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of the new signage at the Paramount Building located at 1501 Broadway.

The above resolution passed with a vote of 21 in favor, 4 opposed, 1 abstention. 

WHEREAS, The building at 670 Sixth Avenue was originally two row houses built in the 1850’s, altered in the 1880’s and again in 1946-47, and subsequently combined in 1962 with a glass façade; and

WHEREAS, The applicant, the Bank of America, plans to remove the glass façade and put a new skin on the steel structure, and

WHEREAS, Beige painted aluminum will surround large glass windows with horizontal reveals cut into the limestone, which go across the top of the building and granite bulkheads under the windows; and

WHEREAS, Proposed signage on both sides of the building on 6th avenue and on 21st street will consist of box letters across the top of the building reading “Bank of America”, using neon and/or LED lighting both of which are not permitted in the historic district; and

 WHEREAS, A new  painted  aluminum canopy will be installed on 6th Avenue,  the primary entrance, mimicking a smaller canopy on 21st Street, with letters mounted on the canopy; and

WHEREAS, Considering the size of the building in relation to surrounding historic buildings,  the proposed changes appear inappropriate to the historic district, making it too transparent and conspicuous for its size; and

WHEREAS, The Board suggested the applicant make changes to the original proposal, including lowering the cornice, using smaller signage that is pin mounted with back lighting rather than neon or LED, and to make the aluminum and bulkhead darker to break up the stark look, making it more appropriate with the Historic District; and

WHEREAS, The applicant should be commended for returning to the Board having adapted the original proposal incorporating the suggested changes; and 

WHEREAS, Because the building was built for the Glaziers Union in l962-63, it has also been suggested that the Bank of America simply restore the building to its original 1962 appearance, restoring what is considered by some to be an historic building; therefore be it

RESOLVED that Community Board Five recommends approval of application to reclad the façade at 670 Sixth Avenue located within the Ladies’ Mile Historic District.

The above resolution passed with a vote of 23 in favor, 2 opposed, 1 abstention.  

WHEREAS, Tribeca Entertainment Group, Inc., is applying for a liquor license at 14 East 27th Street; and

WHEREAS, This establishment is approximately 6,000 square feet, occupying the ground floor and basement, and will be operating as a lounge; and

WHEREAS, Residents attending the PS/QL meeting voiced complaints and concerns regarding the present operation at this address ("The Social Club") and the negative impact it has had on the community, including noise from patrons in front of the establishment and from cars, limos and radios until 4 or 5 a.m., fights outside the establishment, and two shootings right outside the premises, all verified by police reports; and

WHEREAS, The applicants, Sal Imposimato, Frank Sinicola and Edward Liva III, none of whom have been involved in the previous operation at this location, attended the Public Safety/Quality of Life Committee meeting held June 6, 2005, and assured the community and CB5 in the form of an affidavit (attached) that the following stipulations to the liquor license will be upheld – they will:

• not seek the granting of a cabaret license;

• not use promoters;

• not have loud music, and will install additional soundproofing if necessary to control noise emanating from the establishment;

• maintain a waiting area inside the establishment to alleviate lines outside, if necessary;

• discourage the parking of idling cabs, limousines and other vehicles on the street;

• provide for the cleanup of any litter on the street or sidewalk within 50 feet from either side of the doors of the establishment arising as a result of their operation;

• provide the telephone number of one of three owners who will be on premise and one additional owner in case of emergency;

• meet with the Public Safety/Quality of Life Committee with their security plan in July 2005; and

WHEREAS, One of the owners, Sal Imposimato, who lives in Manhattan and will be regularly on-premise at this establishment, has ten years experience in the business having worked in such establishments as "China Grill Miami," "Dorsia," "So Ho and Tribeca Grand Hotels," "Asia de Cuba, New York," and "Four Seasons Hotel, Beverly Hills;" therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of the liquor license for "Tribeca Entertainment Group, Inc.", located at 14 East 27th Street, provided that the attached stipulations are upheld; and be it further

RESOLVED, That Community Board Five respectfully requests of the State Liquor Authority that this affidavit be accepted, attached and considered a stipulation to the liquor license for the premises.