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Landmarks
650 Sixth Avenue (Ladies Mile Historic District): Application is for a one-story rooftop addition; residential entry marquee on 20th street; widening the window openings of the rear courtyard; and the installation of new windows
WHEREAS, This neo-Renaissance store and loft building, characteristic of the later development phase of the district and designed by Hubert, Pirsson and Hoddick was constructed in 1892; and
WHEREAS, Faced in contrasting white stone and red brick, it is distinguished by the striking articulation of its forms and classically inspired detail and was named after its owner A .J. Cammeyer who operated a giant shoe store; and
WHEREAS, The rooftop addition which is 12 feet high overall is clearly visible from both 20th street and 6th Avenue and as far north as West 23rd street and 6th Avenue. A mock-up was created that clearly demonstrates that it is extremely visible; and
WHEREAS, The rooftop addition which is set back 15 feet from both the avenue and side street, is made of architecturally inappropriate glass and aluminum panels which make it all the more visible and inappropriate architecturally; and
WHEREAS, The applicant is removing two water towers, for which the historic district is known, in order to build the rooftop addition; and
WHEREAS, The new residential marquee is extremely modern, thin, made of glass and steel, with lights hidden inside and standing numerals, and is not appropriate to the side streets of the historic district; and
WHEREAS, Windows in the courtyard will be combined to make larger modern glass windows, (using two existing windows to make one large glass one). The new windows will be visible to the buildings in the rear and in this case courtyard windows will be reviewed by the Landmarks Preservation Commission; and
WHEREAS, The applicant has not presented a master plan for the restoration of the storefront; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That Community Board five recommends denial of the Certificate of Appropriateness for 650 Sixth Avenue and would like the applicant to rethink this application and come back to the Board.
The above resolution passed with a vote of 20 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention.