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Landmarks
30 East 21st Street (Broadway and Park Avenue South), application for installation of an ADA ramp for entry to a ground floor restaurant
WHEREAS, 30 East 21st Street ("Building") is located between Broadway and Park Avenue South in the Ladies' Mile Historic District ("District") and
WHEREAS, The Building was constructed circa 1898 in the Neo-Renaissance style by Ralph Samuel and is an eight-story residential building with a commercial space on the ground floor that is currently occupied by a restaurant named Harding's ("Restaurant"); and
WHEREAS, The current entry to the Restaurant involves a single 4 inches high step access that is not ADA compliant; and
WHEREAS, The applicant is a party to a United States District Court consent stipulation requiring ADA compliant access to the Restaurant; and
WHEREAS, The applicant proposes to install an ADA compliant ramp for entry into the Restaurant; and
WHEREAS, A ramp of any kind is not contextual with the Building or the fabric of the District; and
WHEREAS, A ramp of any kind will constrict pedestrian flow given 21st Street between Broadway and Park Avenue South is a busy thoroughfare and a gateway to the Lexington Avenue subway line; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five has identified alternative ADA compliant solutions that are typically more contextual and appropriate for the District than a ramp, while fully compliant with ADA law;
WHEREAS, Community Board Five is fully supportive of ADA compliance and the goal to make all facilities accessible to everyone; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five had intended to recommend the approval of the application subject to the condition that the applicant provides ADA compliant access to the Restaurant utilizing a shaved step or sidewalk re-grade solution (instead of a ramp) which would be contextual with the Building, compatible with pedestrian flow on 21st Street and appropriate for the District; and
WHEREAS, The applicant (subsequently) rejected the aforementioned condition for a recommendation of approval; therefore be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends denial of a ramp to provide ADA compliant access to the ground floor restaurant named Harding's located at 30 East 21st Street between Broadway and Park Avenue South in the Ladies' Mile Historic District.