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Landmarks
140 West 57th Street, application by a commercial building owner for a Certificate of Appropriateness for a new entry door, signage and canopy
At the regularly scheduled monthly Community Board Five meeting on Thursday, July 09, 2020, the following resolution passed with a vote of 42 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining:
WHEREAS, The Beaufort, at 140 West 57th Street, is located between 6th and 7th Avenues on the south side of the street and was designed by Pollard & Steinman and constructed in 1907-08 as an artist Studio Building which provided living and working facilities for artists when the area was a center for artistic activities, and
WHEREAS, The building has a duplex arrangement that allowed for seven double stories facing the street with twelve stories in the rear and an identical neighbor at 130 West 57th Street, and
WHEREAS, The building was designated an individual landmark in 1999; and
WHEREAS, The applicant plans to replace the original cornice in kind, clean and repair existing stone, repair and paint the existing window frames grey, to match the neighboring similar architectural design, all of which is will be approved by LPC at staff level, and
WHEREAS, The Applicant, a commercial office developer, wishes to: (a) replace non-historic single glass door with new painted gray wood double doors with ADA pedestal, (b) remove the existing non-ADA compliant granite step, ramp and handrail at the entrance, (c) install new bronze plaque signage on the stone pilaster flanking the entry symmetrically, and (d) install new arched canvas canopy with (4) slender metal posts, 6’-6” wide, approximate 21’ long and 10’-10” high with; and
WHEREAS, the Applicant plans to replace fire escape(s) with (4) exterior balconies by
reallocating zoning floor area, adding a small new 13th floor addition with exterior terrace, filling a light well, cleaning and repairing masonry, and installing new enlarged gray windows at the rear of the building, all of which is non-visible from any thoroughfare; and
WHEREAS, The proposed design is an improvement and the restoration is harmonious to the landmark; and
WHEREAS, The applicant has the best intention to not conceal the decorative stone rosettes that surround the entry portal and the applicant is willing to adjust the entry canopy design so the canopy is freestanding and self-supported by 4 posts; therefore be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approval of the Certificate of Appropriateness for a new entry door, signage and canopy at 140 West 57th Street.