The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) has approved renovations at 601 West 26th Street, a historic office building in Manhattan’s West Chelsea Historic District. The scope of work includes a new outdoor terrace, illuminated ground-floor signage, and retail storefronts.
RXR Realty, the building’s current owners, are leading the renovation project. HLW and Studios Architecture are both responsible for design of the development’s new facilities.
Perched atop the tenth floor, the terrace will feature landscaping throughout, open-air seating and lounge areas, additional lounge areas under the shade of pergolas, an art garden, and a small water feature. Glass guardrails will be installed along the edge of the entire terrace.
The terrace will be accessible by elevator with access to an expanded stairway.
The new illuminated marquees will read “Starrett-Lehigh Building,” the formal name of the building, and face out along Twelfth Avenue and 27th Street. The LPC previously approved the installation of marquees along 28th Street and Eleventh Avenue.
In voting to approve proposals presented to the LPC on August 9, the commissioners stipulated that the applicants reduce the height of the pergolas and that the finish of the bulkhead be reconsidered, both to reduce street-level visibility.
Upon receipt, review and approval of final drawings, a Certificate of Appropriateness will be issued, and the project will be able to move forward. RXR Realty has not announced when the project might be completed.
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LPC is quick to approve projects for rich people.