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Landmarks
110 East 17th Street (East 17th Street - Irving Place Historic District) application for the renovation of newels and rails.
At the scheduled monthly meeting of Community Board Five on Thursday, April 11, 2013, the Board passed the following resolution by a vote of 38 in favor; 3 opposed; 1 abstaining:
WHEREAS, 110 East 17th Street, located in the East 17th Street - Irving Place Historic District, is described in the District Designation Report as "one of a pair of impressive brownstone-fronted Italianate houses ... (which) ...retains its high stoop with characteristic cast-iron newels and carved brownstone balcony at the parlor story with a cast-iron balustrade."; and
WHEREAS, The building is a four-story and basement row house built circa 1853-54 by Robert C. Voorhies for the original owners, Thomas S. and Mary E. Young and continues to house residential tenants; and
WHEREAS, The owner of the property has applied to LPC for approval to renovate and replace the newels and handrails at the stairway leading to the building entrance due to severe deterioration and the hazardous condition of the ironwork; and
WHEREAS, The newels are in such poor condition that they are now wrapped in blankets to prevent injury and further deterioration; and
WHEREAS, The replacement newels resemble other newels on the same street, but are not replicas of the original historic newels; and
WHEREAS, The stair handrails proposed to be used are not considered appropriate and the applicant has agreed to consider more suitable handrail replacements which would be more compatible to the newels to be installed; and
WHEREAS, The applicant will restore the bottom steps and place the replacement newels on top of the bottom step, which will be repaired, rather than in a cut out of the step; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approval of 110 East 17th Street (between Park Avenue South and Irving Place), application for the renovation and replacement of newels and handrails with the condition that the owner has agreed to install more suitable handrail replacements than those shown in the design presented to CB5.