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Landmarks
700 Fifth Avenue, (Peninsula Hotel), application for Rooftop Renovations
WHEREAS, The Peninsula Hotel (formerly the Gotham Hotel) is an individual landmark, designated in 1989, that was built between 1902-05 to the designs of Hiss & Weekes in a neo-Italian Renaissance style; and
WHEREAS, The proposed project is to renovate the interior as well as the north, south and east facades of the penthouse addition to the building; and
WHEREAS, The subject penthouse was designed prior to LPC designation in 1980 by Stephen B. Jacobs in a style contrasting with that of the original 1902 building; and
WHEREAS, The LPC found that the penthouse is a non-contributing factor regarding its Landmark designation; and
WHEREAS, No alterations are planned for any portion of the 1902 façade; and
WHEREAS, Most of the exterior of the 3-story addition will remain unaffected, and no net expansion of the size of the building is planned; and
WHEREAS, The applicant proposes to remove a swimming pool and locker rooms and replace them with a suite of hotel rooms; and
WHEREAS, The proposal is to reduce the projection of the cantilevered middle floor by making it smaller in area, and adding that area to the lower floor, where it is effectively hidden by the enormous 1902 copper cornice; and
WHEREAS, The exterior work is concentrated on the east side of the building, at the lower two of the three stories of the Jacobs penthouse, and would result in reduced visibility of the penthouse addition from the street, and would result in a more regular and less distracting façade; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of the application for rooftop renovations at 700 Fifth Avenue.
The above resolution passed with a vote of 36 in favor, 0 opposed, 2 abstentions. 