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217-247 west 43rd street, Certificate of Appropriateness application to modify the West 43rd Street building entrance, develop storefront master plan for new ground floor storefront infill and window replacement program
WHEREAS, The building located at 217-247 West 43rd Street, also known as The New York Times Building, was constructed in three stages between 1912 and 1932; andWHEREAS, On April 24, 2001, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated 217-247 West 43rd Street as an Individual Landmark; and
WHEREAS, This is an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for work on the West 43rd Street façade, including modifications to the building entrance, development of a storefront master plan, and a program for window replacement; and
WHEREAS, The façade modifications include restorative work and replacement of previously removed limestone masonry piers, sympathetic to the Neo-Gothic/French Renaissance style within the original construction; and
WHEREAS, The modifications to the building lobby, whichinclude opening the interior space to manage the pedestrian traffic of an estimated 750,000 tenancy, will also increase the building entrance from three bays to four bays; and
WHEREAS, Prior to 1997, when printing operations were relocated, much of the ground floor of the building had been designated for trucking operations, in contrast the former loading docks will be redeveloped as four storefront bays to the west of the building lobby and six storefront bays to the east of the building lobby; and
WHEREAS, The four proposed storefront bays at the west willhave arched masonry openings, and the proposed six storefront bays at the east will have straight masonry openings; and
WHEREAS, One-over-one windows were installed during the initial stage of construction in 1912-13, later stages of construction and subsequent alteration have employed the usage of three-over-three and six-over-six windows; and
WHEREAS, The program of window replacement includes that windows on the second floor are to be restored, and that iron-framed windows on the third floor and above are tobereplaced with aluminum-framed one-over-one windows; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five regrets that arched masonry openings will not be used in the six storefront openings to the east of the building lobby entrances similar to the arched storefront openings to the west; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five respects the applicants proposed changes and believes they are maintaining the overall integrity of the New York Times building;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approvalofthe application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for work on the West 43rd Street façade of 217-247 West 43rd Street, including modifications to the building entrance, development of a storefront master plan, and a program for window replacement.
Tha above resolution passed with a vote of 25 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention.