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49-51 West 23rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenue (north Side) –Application to replace ground floor store front and building entrances.
At the scheduled monthly meeting of Community Board Five on Thursday, September 12, 2013, the Board passed the following resolution by a vote of 38 in favor; 1 opposed; 1 abstaining:
WHEREAS, 49 West 23rd street is located in the Ladies Mile Historic District, and
WHEREAS, The building owner, Adams &Co., proposes to remove the Circa 1960 Lobby entrance of black granite and stainless steel and to reconstruct a new entry portal of carved limestone that is similar to the original design, and
WHEREAS, The new decorative limestone portal, which mirrors that of the freight entrance to the west, will frame new glass "Herculite" doors and a glass transom, and
WHEREAS, The metal freight entrance doors – which are not original – are to be replaced by a set of painted metal panel doors and a large glass transom and these elements recall the original design as can be seen in the 1910 Tax photo, and
WHEREAS, The original central retail storefront will be replaced by a new, enlarged glass storefront system with "Herculite" doors and glass transom, and the existing transom above will be refurbished as needed to match the original design.
WHEREAS, Although the designs of the renovation are deemed generally acceptable, CB5 believes that the owners should consider using:
- Materials and proportions that recall the original design as it can be seen in the 1910 tax photo.
- An alternate to a modern frameless "Hurculite" door system that is more sympathetic with the original design; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends denial of the application of 49 West 23rd Street, for restoration work to include replacement of doors and transom and installation of new glass storefront, unless the design includes materials, proportions and doors more appropriate to the historic character of the Building and the Historic District.