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Landmarks

May 2020, Landmarks Committee

222 Central Park South, The Gainsborough Studios: A Certificate of Appropriateness for a proposed window replacement for Apartment 4 on the North Façade facing street

At the regularly scheduled monthly Community Board Five meeting on Thursday, May 14, 2020, the following resolution passed with a vote of 41 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining:

WHEREAS, The Gainsborough Studio is located at 222 Central Park South across from Central Park; and

WHEREAS, The building built between 1907 and 1908 by architect Charles W. Buckham, is considered a rare surviving example of artists’ cooperative living featuring expansive windows to capture the most natural light possible to benefit the artists, and was designated a New York City Landmark in 1988; and

WHEREAS, The applicant proposes to replace an original double hung steel window in apartment 4, 3rd floor, with a steel casement outward swinging casement window; and

WHEREAS, The existing window is a steel frame nine-panes single glaze window with two double-hung panels on each end; and

WHEREAS, New steel window assemblies are to replace existing steel window assemblies at upper level of Apartment 4 (3rd Fl) with following specifics:

Steel frame

Finish color: Benjamin Moore HC-114              

Glass: 1” overall double pane insulated glass (one pane to be laminated) Argon gas filled with low E coating

Spacer: Aluminum-black finish, dark bronze/black perimeter spacers; and

WHEREAS, The proposed new window replicates the original window, resembling in the closest way, the existing nine pane steel window with two changes:

1. Changing the function of window from double hung to casement with outswing function, operational on the first and ninth glass panels.
2. Minimally reducing the height, width and depth of the window, glazing and mullions (approved by LPC staff); and

WHEREAS, The existing window assembly is to be:

1: Removed and replaced brick by brick

2. All windows to set on the same plane as existing
3. Waterproofing membrane and sill pan, to run the entire masonry opening with end dams
4. Exterior caulk shall be DOW 795 at brick, NP-1 Urethane in stone
5. Windows shall meet NYCEC minimum requirements; and

WHEREAS, The new window is of high quality from a well-noted manufacturer; and

WHEREAS, Although the opening mechanism will be different, the new window will have the same material and profile as the existing original window and will not detract from the historic fabric of the building; and

WHEREAS, Community Board Five deplores that a window replacement master plan has not been developed by the board of managers of the building and notes that windows have been replaced in the past with little to no concern for historic and architectural context (including a historic 9-panes window replaced with 8 panes of glass); and

WHEREAS, Community Board Five urges LPC to work with the board of the building to develop a master plan so that subsequent window replacements restore fenestration uniformity and symmetry to the graceful and elegant façade of the building; therefore be it

RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approval of the proposed window replacement for Apartment 4, 3rd Fl, provided great care is given to replicating the profile and style of the window using historic materials, and urges LPC to demand that the board of 222 Central Park South develops a window replacement master plan.