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Landmarks
Rockefeller Center
WHEREAS, Rockefeller Center is made up of 19 buildings that occupy 22 acres between West 48th Street
and West 52nd Street, and 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue,
WHEREAS, Rockefeller Center was built during the Great Depression by John D. Rockefeller Jr. and
was designated a NYC Landmark in 1985; and
I) A Master Plan Expansion and Retail Signage throughout Rockefeller Center
WHEREAS, The applicant proposes to expand a Master Plan that was previously approved by LPC for
portions of 45 Rockefeller Plaza in 1998 to 1 Rockefeller Plaza, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the remaining
façades of 45 Rockefeller, 610 Fifth Avenue, and 620 Fifth Avenue; and
WHEREAS, The applicant proposes to offer up to 20 pre-approved storefront options for future tenants
that vary only by location of entry door and height of storefront in-fill, all of which are contextual with
existing storefronts currently in Rockefeller Center both in design and materials; and
WHEREAS, Any proposed storefront infill alterations will remain within the existing storefront openings,
less the small removal of the granite base for door entry if applicable; and
WHEREAS, This application also proposes new signage designs for all storefronts (those not located on
the Avenues) that feature bronze lettering attached to acrylic bases affixed to the original black-painted
glass sign bands above each storefront, and may entail brand-specific fonts but will not have logos; and
WHEREAS, This application proposes to add lighting to all storefront sign bands by adding a bronze
“lip” to conceal an LED light fixture that will run the full length of each sign band and shine up on the
lettering for greater retail visibility; and
WHEREAS, the storefront infill options are consistent will the design and materials already found within
Rockefeller Center and further allow for ADA-compliance; and
WHEREAS, The signage proposals do not alter the design intended by the original architects, and make
the retail spaces more noticeable during non-daylight hours; therefore be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approval for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the
expansion of the LPC-approved 1998 Master Plan for 45 Rockefeller Plaza to be implemented throughout
1 Rockefeller Plaza, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the remaining façades of 45 Rockefeller, 610 Fifth Avenue,
and 620 Fifth Avenue, which include various storefront in-fill options, consistent store signage featuring
bronze lettering attached to acrylic bases affixed to the original black-painted glass sign bands, and the
addition of LED lighting concealed by a bronze “lip” in each retail bay.
II) Alterations for altered Retail Storefronts
WHEREAS, The applicant proposes to alter storefronts on 1 Rockefeller Plaza, 45 Rockefeller Plaza, and
50 Rockefeller Plaza that alter existing window configurations and operating mechanisms, but will retain
all banner signage and original surrounding materials; and
WHEREAS, The application for 45 Rockefeller Plaza proposes removal of the existing original revolving
door to allow for ADA-compliant entry into this space while preserving the original revolver shell; and
WHEREAS, The application for 45 Rockefeller Plaza also proposes reconfiguration of five (5) storefront
bays on the southwest corner of the building from large-pane display windows to a configuration
including an entry door and smaller accordion-style windows that open; and
WHEREAS, The application for 50 Rockefeller Plaza proposes the replacement of non-historic doors
currently within the original revolver shell to ADA-compliant entry, as well as reconfiguration of one (1)
retail bay from large-pane display windows to a configuration including an entry door and smaller
accordion-style windows that open; and
WHEREAS, The application for 50 Rockefeller Plaza also proposes to convert large stationary display
windows in two (2) retail bays to large double-hung storefront windows with a fixed upper sash and a
movable lower sash that can lift upward, and this will require the removal of the existing granite base at
each of these bays in order to bring the retail floor even with the exterior sidewalk; and
WHEREAS, The application for 1 Rockefeller Plaza proposes reconfiguration of three (3) storefront bays
on the southwest corner of the building from large-pane display windows to a configuration including an
entry door and smaller accordion-style windows that open; and
WHEREAS, CB5 strongly urges the applicant to consider an alternative design to decrease the number of
mullions in the accordion-style window proposal to keep with the original design similar to other bays
already within Rockefeller Center; and
WHEREAS, CB5 recognizes the applicant’s need to maintain desirable retail spaces for continued
occupancy, and that the applicant will use same materials within proposed infills; therefore be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends denial for a Certificate of Appropriateness for
modification of openings and replacement storefront and entry infill, unless the 2 sash window bases and
sills be retained at 50 Rockefeller Plaza, while recommending that the accordion window design be
reworked throughout the various buildings to be more sympathetic with the buildings, and urges the
applicant to perform minimal removal of original material as well as to re-use original material where
possible.
III) New Signage on 45 Rockefeller Plaza
WHEREAS, The applicant proposes to add signage to four main entryways of 45 Rockefeller Plaza, aka
the International Building, that will match the flush-mounted light-finished bronze letter signage already
in place throughout Rockefeller Center to indicate either the building address and/or large tenants; and
WHEREAS, The entrance at 20 West 51st Street currently has “45 Rockefeller Plaza” in place and this
application proposes to add “International Building” on the opposite side of the entryway, and the name
of up to one tenant on each side of the building entryway to create a symmetrical look; and
WHEREAS, The entrance at 45 Rockefeller Plaza currently has “45 Rockefeller Plaza” in place and this
application proposes to add “International Building” on the opposite side of the entryway, and the name
of up to one tenant on each side of the building entryway to create a symmetrical look; and
WHEREAS, The entrance at 19 West 50th Street currently has “45 Rockefeller Plaza” in place and this
application proposes to add the name of up to two tenants under the building name while leaving the
decorative frieze untouched on the opposite side of the building entryway; and
WHEREAS, The entrance at 630 Fifth Avenue currently has incised gold-leaf signage on either side of
the main entryway to indicate the building name and this application proposes to add the name of up to
two tenants on each side of the building entryway to create a symmetrical look; and
WHEREAS, The proposal of all new signage will match the flush-mounted light-finished bronze letter
signage already in place throughout Rockefeller Center; therefore be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approval for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the
addition of signage to four main entryways of 45 Rockefeller Plaza, providing the applicant continues to
commit to replacing damaged limestone with like material as necessary, as they have done in the past.