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Landmarks
404 Fifth Avenue - Stewart & Company Building- Individual Landmark, application to legalize signage
WHEREAS, 404 Fifth Avenue (on the west side of Fifth Avenue between 36th and 37th Streets) is an individual New York City Landmark, designed by the renowned architectural firm Warren & Wetmore in 1914 for the real estate mogul Robert W. Goelet for use as the Stewart & Company Department Store; and
WHEREAS, This stretch of Fifth Avenue became world famous for its department stores which included B. Altman and Lord & Taylor, also NYC Landmark buildings; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five unanimously recommended designation in November 2005 in its Resolution which reads in part:
"RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends that 404 Fifth Avenue, the Stewart & Company Building, be designated a New York City landmark because of its extraordinary and historic architecture and design, and its renowned place in the history of New York City's architecture"; and
WHEREAS, The NYC Landmarks Preservation Letter issued a Warning Letter with respect to illegally installed signage installed by a tenant, Capital One Bank, which replaced previously LPC approved signage for North Fork Bank; and
WHEREAS, The applicant would prefer to legalize the existing signage (four separate signs) to save the cost of fabricating and installing new signage and has applied to LPC to legalize the signage in place; and
WHEREAS, The existing signage is deemed inappropriate in design and disharmonious with the character of this historic building by both the staff at LPC and CB 5; and
WHEREAS, The applicant has agreed to prepare a new design for the signage for Capital One Bank for presentation to CB 5 and to LPC; and
WHEREAS, The applicant has agreed to withdraw its application to legalize the signage; therefore be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends denial of the Application to legalize signage at 404 Fifth Avenue (Stewart & Company Building) installed without LPC permits.
The above resolution passed by a vote of 32 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.