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Landmarks
17 East 17th Street, application to legalize existing stairs and elevator bulkhead and add three new mechanical units.
WHEREAS, 17 East 17th Street is a seven-story building constructed in approximately 1900, located on the north side of 17th Street between Broadway/Union Square West and Fifth Avenue in the Ladies Mile Historic District; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant received a Certificate of No Effect from the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission for the addition of a penthouse which is not visible from street level; and
WHEREAS, When the penthouse was added, the work exceeded the scope of the Certificate of No Effect and also included stairs and an elevator bulkhead located above the penthouse; and
WHEREAS, The extra work is nearly complete and its height exceeds that allowed under the Certificate of No Effect by eight feet; and
WHEREAS, The extra work is visible from street level and therefore is not eligible for a Certificate of No Effect; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant has applied to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission to legalize the existing illegal work in order to secure a new Certificate of Occupancy for the Building; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant has also applied to add three mechanical units that would rise two and a half feet above the existing illegal work; and
WHEREAS, A visual inspection by Community Board Five confirms that the existing extra work will be minimally visible — the elevator bulkhead can be seen from the southeast corner of East 17th Street and Union Square West, but the existing work is not visible from any other location; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five has had a general policy of not approving illegal additions to landmarked buildings in Historic Districts; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends denial of the application to legalize the stairs and elevator bulkhead and add three new mechanical units at 17 East 17th Street.
The above resolution passed by a vote of 29 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.