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Landmarks

14 West 23rd Street (Ladies’ Mile Historic District), application to legalize the installation of windows in non-compliance with permit for minor work

WHEREAS, The building located at 14 West 23rd Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues is currently a five-story commercial building (the birthplace of Edith Wharton); built circa 1857, with a cast iron façade designed by George H. Billings in 1892, and is situated in the Ladies’ Mile Historic District; and

WHEREAS,  The building has recently been purchased and after such purchase was to have been found in violation due to metal windows installed on the second floor façade prior to purchase; and

WHEREAS, The owner of the building previously submitted an application to the Landmarks’ Preservation Commission to replace the metal windows with widows that are more in keeping with the original construction made of wood and glass; and

WHEREAS, Once construction and installation had been completed, an LPC inspection found a discrepancy between the submitted drawings and the actual installation, and as such LPC issued a violation for the new windows; and

WHEREAS, The LPC Staff suggested placing wooden moldings around the existing new windows; and

WHEREAS, The owner and architect’s representative presented the Landmarks Committee of Community Board Five drawings of said addition with a complete explanation of the error; and

WHEREAS, Community Board Five believes the owner of the building has done his best to provide a viable solution that is compatible with the designs of similar windows in the Ladies’ Mile Historic District; therefore be it

RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approval of the application to legalize the installation of windows in non-compliance with permit for minor work on the second floor of the building at 14 West 23rd Street in the Ladies’ Mile Historic District.

The resolution passed with a vote of  31 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention. 

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