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Landmarks

17 West 17th Street, bet. 5th Ave and Ave of the Americas, application for new storefront.

WHEREAS, The applicant has applied to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the installation of a new storefront for the eastern entrance to the building located at 17 West 17th Street; and

WHEREAS, The building is located on the north side of 17th Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue in the Ladies' Mile Historic District; and

WHEREAS, The work would include replacement of the existing eastern single glass door, which is framed in aluminum and flanked by two glass panels, with a double glass door framed in aluminum, which would match the proportions of the existing double solid metal service entrance door located at the western entrance to the building; and

WHEREAS, They would replace the existing upper metal transom panel above the eastern entrance with a glass transom panel, which would match the upper glass transom panel located above the western entrance, while the existing lower rectangular glass transom panel, which currently matches the lower rectangular glass transom panel above the western entrance, would remain; and

WHEREAS, They would replace the existing rounded canvas awning above the eastern entrance with a one-inch plate clear tempered glass canopy, which would be supported by support rods utilizing the existing holes in the masonry; and

WHEREAS, They would recess the existing call box at the eastern entrance into the stone return; and

WHEREAS, They would clean and patch the existing masonry around the eastern storefront, which is currently in poor condition; and

WHEREAS, The existing storefront has been in place since at least 1980 and historic photos do not show the details of the original storefront; and

WHEREAS, Although it was felt that the glass canopy was too modern for the building in the context of the surrounding historic district and it would be preferable that either no canopy or a more historically-appropriate canopy be installed, other proposed work would be appropriate, would balance the existing western entrance and would improve the existing condition of the building; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approval of the majority of the application for a Certificate of Appropriateness at 17 West 17th Street for the installation of a double glass door framed in aluminum and a glass transom panel, the recessing of the existing call box, and the cleaning and patching of the existing masonry; however, be it

RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends denial of the installation of a glass canopy.

The above resolution passed by a vote of 19 in favor; 6 opposed; 1 abstaining.

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