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Landmarks
2 East 52nd Street aka 651-653 Fifth Avenue, application to install awnings at the upper floors and to legalize the installation of three flagpoles without Landmarks Preservation Commission permits.
WHEREAS, 2 East 52nd Street aka 651-653 Fifth Avenue (Morton and Nellie Plant House) now occupied by the retail store, Cartier, is an individually landmarked building, built in 1905 as a residence for the Plant Family in an era when Fifth Avenue housed the mansions of the Astors, Goulds, Belmonts and Vanderbilts; and
WHEREAS, The current owner, Cartier, has applied to install additional awnings at the upper floors of the East 52ns Street facade and to legalize three flagpoles on that same facade which were installed without Landmarks Preservation Commission approval; and
WHEREAS, The existing awnings on the building on the Fifth Avenue facade and above the first floor have been changed from an inconspicuous white color at the time of designation to a bright red color (apparently with LPC concurrence) and the building already has three flagpoles on the Fifth Avenue facade; and
WHEREAS, Each red awning and the illegal flagpoles with bright red flags now in place all have signage with the Cartier name which is deemed excessive; and
WHEREAS, The proposed awnings and illegal flagpoles give the building an unnecessarily commercial appearance and are considered a distraction from the classical architectural features of the building; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five has a general policy of not approving illegally placed building elements such as illegally placed flagpoles; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends that the Landmarks Preservation Commission deny the application to install awnings at the upper floors and to legalize the installation of three flagpoles, on the East 52nd Street facade without Landmarks Preservation Commission permits.
The above resolution passed by a vote of 24 in favor, 3 opposed, 1 abstaining.