COFA for 140 West 57Th Street, Manhattan Docket 03-0481

THE NEW YORK CITY LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMISSION 1 CENTRE STREET 9TH FLOOR NORTH NEW YORK NY 10007 TEL: 212 669-7700 FAX: 212 669-7780 PERMIT CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS ISSUE DATE: EXPIRATION DATE: DOCKET #: COFA #: 08/05/2002 01/29/2008 03-0481 COFA 03-0654 ADDRESS BOROUGH: BLOCK/LOT: 140 WEST 57TH STREET INDIVIDUAL LANDMARK MANHATTAN 1009/50 140 WEST 57TH STREET STUDIO BUILDING Display This Permit While Work Is In Progress ISSUED TO: Kevin Neunier 140 West 57th Street LLC 142 West 57th Street New York, NY 10019 Pursuant to Section 25-307 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York, the Landmarks Preservation Commission, at the Public Meeting of January 29, 2002, following the Public Hearing of January 22, 2002 and Public Meeting of January 22, 2002, voted to approve a proposal to modify and install new storefront infill at the ground floor of the subject premises, as put forward in you application completed on December 20, 2002. The work, as approved, consists of removing the modern metal, glass and concrete infill and sidewalk canopy and box awning; exposing and restoring the historic metal crested cornice at the westernmost storefront and restoring the metal crested cornice at the easternmost storefront; installing new black-finished metal and glass storefront infill above a granite watertable; installing metal signage at the signbands, and adhesive lettering in the display windows; and installing sandblasted glass at the transom above the service door. The work, as initially presented, consisted of installing black-painted glass at the transom above the service door on the westernmost storefront. The work was shown in Drawings A1 through A5, dated January 29, 2002, prepared by Dan Shannon, RA, and existing condition photographs, and historic photographs (c. 1908, 1940), prepared by Cas Stachelberg, submitted as components of the application and presented at the Public Hearing and Public Meetings. In reviewing this proposal, the Commission noted that the designation report describes 140 West 57th Street as one of a pair of artists' studio buildings designed by Pollard and Steinman and constructed in 1907-08. The Commission also noted that modern awnings and infill have obscured the historic metal crested cornice at the easternmost storefront, and that modern infill exists below the cornice level on both storefronts. With regard to this application, the Commission found that removing the existing modern infill will eliminate unsympathetic alterations that detract from the building; that exposing and restoring the historic metal crested cornice at the western storefront and restoring the metal crested cornice at the eastern storefront will return significant architectural features to the building's base; that the simple design and materials of the storefront infill relates well to the ground floor and the building; that the use of clear and sandblasted glass will help to unify the ground floor infill, and will return a degree of transparency to the base of the building; and that the proposed two forms of signage for the storefront infill, consisting of adhesive lettering in the display windows and adhesive metal lettering at the signband, will be a discreet presence at the new storefronts. Based on these findings, the Commission determined the work to be appropriate to the building voted to approve it. The Commission authorized the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness upon receipt, review and approval of two sets of final Department of Buildings filing drawings. On July 29, 2002, the staff of the Commission received Drawings A1 through A5, dated revised July 25, 2002, prepared by Dan Shannon, RA, and letters, dated June 26, 2002, and July 27, 2002, and a reduced set of the presentation materials, prepared by Cas Stachelberg. The Landmarks Preservation Commission staff reviewed these drawings and found that the recessed entry to the easternmost storefront had been eliminated, and that this change is in keeping with the intent of the Commissioner's original approval. Based on this and the above findings, these drawings are being marked approved by the Commission with a perforated seal and this Certificate of Appropriateness is being issued. This permit is issued on the basis of the building and site conditions described in the application and disclosed during the review process. By accepting this permit, the applicant agrees to notify the Commission if the actual building or site conditions vary or if original or historic building fabric is discovered. The Commission reserves the right to amend or revoke this permit, upon written notice to the applicant, in the event that the actual building or site conditions are materially different from those described in the application or disclosed during the review process. All approved drawings are marked approved by the Commission with a perforated seal indicating the date of approval. The work is limited to what is contained in the perforated documents. Other work or amendments to this filing must be reviewed and approved separately. The applicant is hereby put on notice that performing or maintaining any work not explicitly authorized by this permit may make the applicant liable for criminal and/or civil penalties, including imprisonment and fines. This letter constitutes the permit; a copy must be prominently displayed at the site while work is in progress. Please direct inquiries to Meisha Hunter. Sherida E. Paulsen Chair PLEASE NOTE: PERFORATED DRAWINGS AND A COPY OF THIS PERMIT HAVE BEEN SENT TO: Cas Stachelberg, Higgins & Quasebarth cc: C. Kane Levy PAGE 2 Issued: 8/5/02 DOCKET: 03-0481.

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