<< Back
Landmarks
41 West 54th Street – Proposed designation
WHEREAS, On Monday January 7th, 2007, members of the public appeared before Community Board Five’s Landmarks Committee seeking support in their effort to designate, as an individual landmark, the townhouse building at 41 West 54th Street, located between Fifth and Sixth Avenues; and
WHEREAS, This townhouse was singled out in the 1979 Midtown West Survey and recommended to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for designation, although no action was taken at that time, and it is located in the Special Midtown Preservation Subdistrict; and
WHEREAS, It has a broad double doorway, balconies and 2 tiers of casements which compose a projecting bay, flanked by subtly canted rusticated piers. There is some delicate relief carving on the balconies. Over the two round arched dormers is a simple mansard roof which has been carefully restored and stands out from the ordinary buildings that surround it; and
WHEREAS, It was completed as a single family residence in October 1878 as part of a five brownstone development by speculative designer and developer James G. Lynd and Brothers. It was originally in the Neo Grecian style and was recessed from its lot line with access via a stoop; and
WHEREAS, The building’s current Beaux Art style façade was built in 1909 by architects Foster, Gade & Graham. They were also the architects of The John H. and Caroline Iselin House at 59 East 79 Street which was designated a landmark in 1981. The architects also designed a one story addition to the Joseph Pulitzer house in 1904 (later the Tiffany Building, East 37th and Fifth Avenue, now demolished) and the Romanesque 237 East 123 Street, originally Our Saviour Norwegian Lutheran Church in 1911; and
WHEREAS, This townhouse is deemed to have significant historical, cultural and architectural importance; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that Community Board Five recommends that the townhouse building at 41 West 54th Street be designated as an individual landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.
The above resolution passed by a vote of 30 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.