The New York City Landmark Preservation Commission is reviewing a proposal for renovation work on the Three Arts Club, an eight-story building at 340 West 85th Street on Manhattan‘s Upper West Side. Designed by Curtis + Ginsberg Architects, the project involves the construction of an ADA accessible ramp and stairway to the main entrance to the structure, which is owned by the West Side Federation and contains 125 single-occupancy senior supportive housing units for the formerly homeless.
The building was constructed in 1927. It stands eight stories tall and features 125 single-room occupancy units.
340 West 85th Street, via Google Maps
340 West 85th Street was originally designed in the Colonial Revival style by George B. de Gersdoff and was constructed in 1927 for The Three Arts Club, an organization founded in New York City with the goal of providing a supportive space for aspiring female artists.
Historical view of 340 West 85th Street, via nyc.gov
In addition to the construction of the new entry ramp and staircase, the proposals show modifications to the windows, with white mullions replacing the current black grids. As a result of work, changes will need to be made to the existing sidewalk at the front of the property as well as to the building’s entry door, which will need to be made slightly smaller.
Render of existing conditions at 340 West 85th Street, via nyc.gov
Render of proposed work at 340 West 85th Street, via nyc.gov
Render of proposed work at 340 West 85th Street, via nyc.gov
340 West 85th Street is located a short walk from the 1 train at the 86th Street station.
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That looks like crap.
Why is this building landmarked? Let them renovate it.
It’s part of a historic district
Beautiful historic building. The railing on the unfortunate ramp is not code legal in the rendering.
Also a little treacherous considering a wheelchair will just fall right into the window wells.
I get the “historic” part but “beautiful” is very doubtful. If this can be landmarked, we might as well designate all 1000+ years brick buildings in NYC as landmarked. Seriously, I expect at least some delicate stone sculpture on top of the building or on the entrance at the very least
Apparently LPC isn’t concerned about the punched through PTACs.
I fail to see how this building rises to the level of a landmark on the basis of architecture. It is a rather commonplace simplified Colonial Revival structure. Many YMCAs gave a similar appearance.
maybe “guesser” or “Guesser” finally got a job at New York City Landmark Preservation Commission
It is NOT an individual landmark, it is part of a large historic district on the Upper West Side.
It’s a fairly large building, so I don’t see the harm of it being landmarked anyway.
hm I don’t find neighboring buildings to be worth of being preserved as landmarks at the expense of more living space, but to each their own