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Landmarks
51 Madison Avenue, the New York Life building (an Individual Landmark), application to include the installation of mechanical louvers within existing window openings at the 14th-20th floors.
At the regularly scheduled monthly Community Board Five meeting on Thursday, October 12, 2023, the following resolution passed with a vote of 35 in favor; 0 opposed; 0 abstaining:
WHEREAS, 51 Madison Avenue (a/k/a New York Life Building) (the “Applicant”) is a 40-floor office building completed in 1928 and located on the entire block bounded by Madison Avenue, Park Avenue South, 26th Street and 27th Street; and
WHEREAS, New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the Applicant as an individual landmark on October 24, 2000; and
WHEREAS, Applicant proposes the installation of copper or bronze mechanical louvers (collectively, the “Louvers”) using a bronze z-clip within eight (8) existing window openings located between the 17th floor and 20th floor of the Applicant facing 27th Street (collectively, the “Windows”); and
WHEREAS, The material removed for the installation of these Louvers is likely not part of the original construction; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant represents that the use of such z-clip will not cause any damage to the existing frames and/or the panes of the Windows, and, if the Louvers are removed from such Windows, then the windowpanes can be reinstalled in such Windows, making the proposed installation of the Louvers practically reversible; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant will permit the material of the Louvers and the bronze z-clip to patinize naturally; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant agreed to consider the development of a master plan for the Applicant in order to avoid a piecemeal approach to the installation of additional mechanical louvers at the Applicant in the future; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approval of the application for the installation of the Louvers in accordance with the terms and conditions herewith.