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21 E 21st Street, proposing a new two-story storefront, retaining wall including lift, planters and railings at a 6 floor multi-family building located within the Ladies Mile Historic District
At the regularly scheduled monthly Community Board Five meeting on Thursday, September 09, 2021, the following resolution passed with a vote of 33 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining:
WHEREAS, 21 East 21st Street (“Applicant:) is a six-story residential brick bin the Ladies Mile Historic District; and
WHEREAS, The building was built in 1878 in the Queen Anne style; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant is proposing to convert the basement and first-floor residential unit into a restaurant; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant is proposing to remove the existing brick curb wall and metal fence; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant is proposing to install a new metal fence; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant is proposing to remove the two 24-paned basement windows and two 24-paned first-floor windows; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant is proposing to replace the entire basement window area with two large modern show windows; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant is proposing to replace the entire first-floor window area with three large windows, each topped by smaller double windows; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant is proposing to replace the main entrance door with a plain new door; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant is proposing to replace the existing stairway to the basement level with a staircase that converts into an elevator to provide ADA compliant access to the restaurant; and
WHEREAS, The proposed changes would entail a major transformation of the front of the building and extensive removal of historic fabric; and
WHEREAS, The proposed convertible staircase is a new device that has not been tested by the owner or architect and has not received necessary approvals by NY City agencies, for use by the city; and
WHEREAS, The proposed changes eliminate the existing decorative columns and intricate designs of the basement and first-floor; and
WHEREAS, The proposed changes remove an architecturally interesting and complex street-level view; and
WHEREAS, The proposed changes are not sympathetic to the character of the building; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends denial of the application.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this matter.