logo CityLand
      • Home
      • About CityLand
      • CityLand Sponsors
      • Filings & Decisions
      • Commentary
      • Archive
      • Resources
      • CityLaw
      • Current Issue

    Landmarks Preservation Commission

    Owners oppose designation of Queens buildings

    Designation Hearing  •  Long Island City/Elmhurst, Queens

    Owners claimed designation will force them to close their business or hinder needed repair. On March 15, 2005, Landmarks held public hearings on its proposed designations of two separate commercial buildings in Queens: the Sohmer & Co. Piano Factory building in Long Island City and Elmhurst’s Jamaica Savings Bank.

    The six-story Sohmer & Company Piano Factory building, built in 1886 and designed by Berger & Baylies, has a unique mansardroofed clock tower, making the building one of the most prominent structures along the Queens East River waterfront. After it was calendared for designation, public hearings followed in 1983, 1984 and 1990; however, the building was never designated. (read more…)

    Tags : Jamaica Saving Bank, Sohmer & Company Piano Factory building, The Sohmer & Company Piano Factory Building
    Date:04/15/2005
    Category : Landmarks Preservation Commission
    Leave a Comment

    Hearings held on Morris Lapidus’ buildings

    Designation Hearing  •  Union Sq./Midtown East, Manhattan

    Summit Hotel and Crawford Clothes Building considered for designation. On March 29, 2005, Landmarks held a joint public hearing on two buildings designed by the modern architect Morris Lapidus: the 1961 sea-foam brick Summit Hotel at Lexington and East 51st Street and the 1948 Crawford Clothes Building, also known as the Paterson Silk building, at West 14th Street and University Place.

    brothers Preston Robert and Laurence Tisch, following the success of his modern Florida hotels, designed a dramatic 21-story, S-curved slab facade hotel, clad in turquoise brick and green Italian tile. The S-curve shape, both dramatic and practical, permitted Lapidus to increase the hotel room count to 800 from the 500 projected from a traditional box design. When challenged about the dramatic shape and its bright interior following its opening, Lapidus responded, “Why be exotic in private.” The three-story Crawford Clothes store, one of Lapidus’ earliest distinguished works, was noted for the slanted center glass tower that separated its metal-screen and Roman brick facades. (read more…)

    Tags : 569 Lexington Ave., Crawford Clothes Building, DoCoMoMo U.S, Laurence Tisch, Preston Robert, Summit Hotel
    Date:04/15/2005
    Category : Landmarks Preservation Commission
    Leave a Comment

    Plaza Hotel interior rooms slated for public hearing

    Designation Calendaring/Change of Use  •  Midtown West, Manhattan

    Landmarks takes first step towards designation of the Plaza’s interiors. On March 8, 2005, Landmarks voted to hold a hearing on the designation of five public interior rooms of the Plaza Hotel: the Oak Room, the Oak Bar, the Palm Court and the entrance lobbies at West 59th Street and Grand Army Plaza. By a second vote on March 15, 2005, Landmarks added the Plaza’s Terrace Room and first floor of the Grand Ballroom to its consideration.

    The Oak Room, the Oak Bar and the West 59th Street lobby retain most of Henry Hardenbergh’s original 1905 design. Landmarks noted that the Palm Court, which still contains the original mirrored arched openings, marble Corinthian columns, and carytids, carved supporting columns, was modified in 1941 by Conrad Hilton when he acquired the hotel. The Grand Army Plaza lobby, the Terrace Room, and the Grand Ballroom date to a 1921 addition to the Plaza completed by Warren & Wetmore. Landmarks noted that the Grand Ballroom, known for its ornate chandeliers and balconies, was the location of Truman Capote’s famous 1966 Black & White Costume Ball. To be designated, Landmarks must first hold a public hearing, which has not yet been scheduled. (read more…)

    Tags : Oak Bar, Oak Room, Palm Court, Terrace Room, The Plaza Hotel Interior, The Plaza Hotel Interiors
    Date:04/15/2005
    Category : Landmarks Preservation Commission
    Leave a Comment

    Honest owner returns to Commission; gets permit

    Certificate of Appropriateness  •  Tribeca, Manhattan

    One-story addition was visible from adjacent street. In 2002, the owners of 363-65 Greenwich Street, an 1866 Italianate loft in Manhattan’s Tribeca West Historic District, sought approval to add a one-story rooftop addition. Landmarks’ staff approved without a hearing after concluding that the addition would not be visible from any public street. When construction was completed, the owners realized that the addition was visible along Harrison Street and consequently the staff-level approval was flawed. The owners then sought a second approval.

    At the hearing, Commissioner Joan Gerner praised the owners’ “refreshing honesty” in coming forward with the second application. Landmarks approved, finding that the constructed addition was barely visible and did not detract from the historic district. (read more…)

    Tags : 363-365 Greenwich St., Tribeca West Historic District
    Date:03/15/2005
    Category : Landmarks Preservation Commission
    Leave a Comment

    DeBeers second plan ok’ed

    Certificate of Appropriateness  •  Midtown East, Manhattan

    Changes to St. Regis Hotel approved. DeBeers, after its original plan was denied in November 2004, sought approval of a second, less elaborate proposal to alter a portion of the facade of the landmarked St. Regis Hotel for its retail space along Fifth Avenue. The second application sought to remove the modern storefront, replacing it with large display windows with maroon framing and installing etched glass panels directly behind the display windows. Six maroon awnings, metal signage and pin-mounted lettering were also proposed. The more elaborate original proposal would have covered the masonry and replaced the window’s transparent glass with dark aubergine glass. See 1 CityLand 47 (December 2004).

    Landmarks approved the second proposal, finding that the translucent and etched glass maintained the needed transparency in the windows, the lettering was appropriate and the awnings were reminiscent of retractable awnings found on buildings of the same style and age as the St. Regis Hotel. (read more…)

    Tags : 699 Fifth Avenue, DeBeers, St. Regis Hotel
    Date:03/15/2005
    Category : Landmarks Preservation Commission
    Leave a Comment
    1. Pages:
    2. «
    3. 1
    4. ...
    5. 145
    6. 146
    7. 147
    8. 148
    9. 149
    10. 150
    11. 151
    12. 152
    13. 153
    14. »

    Subscribe To Free Alerts

    In a Reader

    Desktop Reader Bloglines Google Live Netvibes Newsgator Yahoo! What's This?

    Follow Us on Social Media

    twitterfacebook

    Search

    Search by Category

      City Council
      CityLaw
      City Planning Commission
      Board of Standards & Appeals
      Landmarks Preservation Commission
      Economic Development Corporation
      Housing Preservation & Development
      Administrative Decisions
      Court Decisions
      Filings and Decisions
      CityLand Profiles

    Search by Date

    © 1997-2010 New York Law School | 185 West Broadway, New York, NY 10013 | 212.431.2100 | Privacy | Terms | Code of Conduct | DMCA | Policies