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Landmarks
NYC Dept. of Design and Construction presentation of design plans for the restoration of Tavern on the Green in Central Park
WHEREAS, The Tavern on the Green in Central Park, sited in a landmarked building planned as a sheepfold built by Calvert Vaux in 1870, remains as one of the oldest and best loved original structures in the park, having been first converted to restaurant use in 1934 under the Moses administration with alterations to the building continuing into the 21st century; and
WHEREAS, The Central Park Conservancy and the New York Department of Parks and Recreation have undertaken a project to restore the facilities and reorient the function of Tavern on the Green (the "Project"); and
WHEREAS, The objectives of the Project are, to the extent possible, to restore the structure to its 1934 footprint, to reduce and reorient the structure to make it more integrated with the park, and to revise the restaurant to orient its service toward park-users rather than toward catered events and customers external to the park; and
WHEREAS, Aspects of the Project including demolition of certain features of the existing building have already taken place without review and approval by the impacted Community Boards, including Community Board Five; and
WHEREAS, The preliminary architectural plan presented to the Parks and Landmarks Committees of Community Board Five includes a proposed modern aluminum and glass curtain wall whose design, colors and other features are not available to Community Board Five at this time and whose features may not be consistent with the historic fabric of the building; and
WHEREAS, An RFP has been issued for the services of a new restaurant concessionaire and Community Board Seven ("CB7"), whose territory is adjacent to the facility, has had input on that RFP and has adopted a resolution regarding the selection criteria for the concessionaire and the character of the restaurant service that will be provided by the concession; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approval of the general plans and objectives of The Tavern on the Green Project in Central Park; and be it further
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends disapproval of the proposed preliminary design for an aluminum and glass curtain wall pending additional information on the characteristics of the wall to ensure that they are in keeping with the historical nature of the building; and be it further
RESOLVED, Community Board Five hereby endorses the RFP and operational aspects of the Project in the resolution as adopted by CB7, which is attached hereto; and be it further
RESOLVED Community Board Five send a letter to the Manhattan Borough President expressing the Board's concern that aspects of the Project have proceeded without review and input of the appropriate Community Boards and stating that those Community Boards should have been consulted before any demolition of the existing building took place and those Community Boards should be consulted before succeeding decisions regarding the Project.
The above resolution passed by a vote of 29 in favor; 1 opposed; 1 abstaining and 1 present but not entitled.