<< Back
Transportation & Environment
Application by the Palace Theatre for a revocable consent from DOT to remove existing exterior stairways and bulkheads on the 47th Street sidewalk east of 7th Avenue and replace them and install a new LED sign above the sidewalk level
WHEREAS, The Palace Theatre (the Applicant), located at 47th Street and 7th Avenue, has applied for a revocable consent from the Department of Transportation to remove existing exterior stairways and bulkheads on the 47th Street sidewalk east of 7th Avenue and replace them with interior circulation and exterior walkable surfaces behind a planned new LED sign above the sidewalk level; and
WHEREAS, The Palace Theatre is currently undergoing substantial renovations, which include elevating the existing theatre by 30 ft; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant plans to realign the theatre, hotel, and retail entrances as well as the building's loading areas to promote better pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic flow on the block; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant will repair and restore the Subway entrance on the block as part of the renovation project; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant is permitted as of right to install 17,000 square feet of signage in front of the theater that will overhang the sidewalk for ten (10) feet from the building façade and will extend from the 3rd to the 9th floors of the building; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant seeks a revocable consent from the Department of Transportation ("DOT") to convert the newly created empty space between the building's façade and the mechanical and support structures of the new sign into usable terraces; and
WHEREAS, The proposed space totals 6,330 square feet, and will be unenclosed, tempered space; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant seeks to convert this otherwise unused area into functional space related to the theatre experience; and
WHEREAS, If approved, the Applicant will pay the City $175,000 for the first year, for the use of the total space, including the sign and it's supporting mechanics and structures, and this fee will be subject to periodic increases up to $215,00 in the final year; and
WHEREAS, The Times Square Alliance, an organization representing local stakeholders, has expressed clear support for the project; and
WHEREAS, The wording of the proposed text amendment providing for the conversion of this space is purposefully limiting and applicable only to the specific characteristics of this building site; therefore be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approval of the Palace Theatre's application for a revocable consent from the Department of Transportation to remove existing exterior stairways and bulkheads on the 47th Street sidewalk east of 7th Avenue and replace them with interior circulation and exterior walkable surfaces behind a planned new LED sign above the sidewalk level.