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Landmarks

768 5th Avenue, Plaza Hotel, The Plaza Compliance Initiative, application to review the proposed 58th Street loading dock door, exterior heaters at the hotel's access points, copper turret

WHEREAS, The Plaza Hotel, located at 768 Fifth Avenue, is a French Renaissance château-style building designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh and opened to the public on October 1, 1907; and

WHEREAS, The applicant appeared in front of the landmarks committee of Community Board Five in October 2017 to discuss seven items that were non compliant with the original plans and drawings; and

WHEREAS, The applicant seeks approval of four remaining items pursuant to the LPC Compliance Initiative; and

WHEREAS, The Plaza Compliance Initiative began with a survey of all items specified by an initial walk-through with LPC staff, Ms. Artus and Ms. Hurlbut; and

WHEREAS, Certain items require a public hearing including exterior heaters, exterior HVAC, exterior signage, loading dock doors, exterior wall grazer covers, NW turret and ballroom lighting; and

WHEREAS, The applicant has agreed to remove the heaters at the 58th street entrance to bring full compliance; and

WHEREAS, The applicant has reduced the number of heaters at other entrances to the building, following CB5’s request; and

WHEREAS, The exterior HVAC was deemed unsightly by the LPC staff because of the size and its visibility when foliage in Central Park is barren allowing a view to the roof HVAC equipment, and the applicant will paint the HVAC unit a light beige to blend with the background; and

WHEREAS, The loading dock doors on the 58th Street façade were not built in compliance with the filed drawings of the previous owners of the Plaza Hotel, Elad, the applicant has agreed to paint the frame a limestone color to match surroundings; and

WHEREAS, The applicant proposes installing a new jamb extension to cover the exposed CMU and new doors to be installed and painted to match the façade; and

WHEREAS, The applicant plans to make the north west turret, only partially visible from the 58th and 6th Avenue side, appear more symmetrical by installing a panel to match the copper panel to the right of the window; and

WHEREAS, The applicant will use copper to build the north west turret; and

RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approval of the application by the Plaza Hotel at 768 Fifth Avenue

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