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Landmarks
149 5th Avenue (bet. E. 21st/22nd Sts.), Application for new freight elevators doors and safety improvements
WHEREAS, 149 5th Avenue (with street frontage on 21st) Street) is a 16 story retail store and loft building, built in 1918, located in the Ladies' Mile Historic District, and
WHEREAS, the property owner is applying for approval of modifications for the service elevator windows and doors which are visible on the facade of the building, and
WHEREAS, the center of the 21st street elevation has a bank of three freight elevators, and,
WHEREAS, one elevator will be abandoned and two remaining freight elevators will be replaced, which will bring the building in compliance with current building safety and fire codes which were approved by the City in December 2009, and,
WHEREAS, this application includes:
- Installation of 5/8 in. diameter bars to be placed on the exterior of all shaft way windows up to the 10th floor (the height of a fire ladder)
- retaining one historic, raised panel, vertically sliding doors
- replacing two historic doors with modern, fire-proof flat panel steel doors replacing the existing sheet metal wood doors, and
WHEREAS, a variance to the building code requires the applicant to demonstrate "hardship," and
WHEREAS, the applicant has agreed to have the two new steel doors finished with a trompe l'oeil painting that mimics the panel design, color and texture of the one existing (remaining) historic door; therefore be it,
RESOLVED, that Community Board Five recommends approval of the application to modify the freight elevator windows and doors at 149 5th Avenue in accordance with the proposal presented to CB 5 with the provision that the new steel flat panel doors be finished with trompe l'oeil painting that mimics the appearance of the one remaining original door.
The above resolution passed by a vote of 39 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.