Hearing held on proposal to compel designation hearings. On November 14, 2005, the Council’s Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting and Maritime Uses held a public hearing on a proposed Local Law which would allow the Council to order the Landmarks Preservation Commission to hold a public hearing on a proposed landmark designation. The proposal, sponsored by Council Member Bill Perkins, would add two new provisions to the landmarks law. Under the first, the Council, by a majority vote, could force Landmarks to hold a public hearing on a proposed landmark designation within 60 days of its vote. The second amendment would direct Landmarks to calendar a public hearing within 60 days of receiving notice that the state’s Historic Preservation Office identified a property as eligible for the state register.

Council claimed that the changes were in response to increased community complaints that Landmarks’ existing designation process was not “sufficiently transparent,” a claim related to failed attempts to force hearings on Two Columbus Circle and St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Harlem. Opening the hearing, Perkins stated that he hoped the legislation would shed some light on how Landmarks operates. (more…)

The Windermere and Dickey House designated. Despite strong opposition by current owners, on June 28, 2005, Landmarks designated the Windermere Apartments in Manhattan’s Clinton section, and the Robert Dickey House in Lower Manhattan.

The Windermere, constructed in 1881, is a visually compelling three-building complex located at 400-406 West 57th Street and Ninth Avenue. Its design, attributed to Theophilus G. Smith, features distinctive cornices and polychromatic brickwork. At the public hearings, the owner strongly opposed the designation, arguing the Windermere was not one grand apartment building worthy of designation, but, in fact, was three separate uninhabitable tenements. 2 CityLand 61 (May 15, 2005). In approving, Landmarks noted that the building was the oldest-known apartment complex in the area and that it played a significant role in the history of women’s housing when, in the 1890s, it was the home of young women entering the work force. (more…)

The Plaza’s new owners testify in support, claiming $350 million to be spent on restoration. Landmarks held two public hearings in June on the proposed designation of interior spaces in the Plaza Hotel, including the Oak Room and Oak Bar, the Terrace and Edwardian Rooms, the Palm Court, the Grand Ballroom’s first floor, and the two entrance lobbies at West 59th Street and Grand Army Plaza. While the exterior of the Plaza was designated an individual landmark in 1969, no interior rooms were designated. Landmarks voted in March to consider the interior designations after the Plaza’s new owners, Elad Properties, filed a change of use application with the City seeking to permit permanent retail space in areas like the Terrace and Edwardian Rooms, historically used as hotel function rooms. See 2 CityLand 41 (Apr. 15, 2005).

The Landmarks Conservancy, the Historic Districts Council, AIA and the Municipal Arts Society testified with others in support of the designation at the first hearing on June 7, 2005, but Elad failed to testify. At the June 28th hearing, Landmarks heard testimony on three applications: the potential designation; the application to change the use, which needed Landmarks review of the preservation purpose relating to the change; and a permit for proposed alterations to the Plaza’s exterior, which included enlarging some window openings. (more…)

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. (more…)

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. (more…)