LP-2688
Fashion Tower – 135 West 36th Street
ITEM PROPOSED FOR PUBLIC HEARING
A 20-story Medieval and Renaissance Revival-style commercial building designed by Emery Roth and built in 1924-25.
As the citywide advocate for New York’s architectural, historical, and cultural neighborhoods, The Historic Districts Council supports the designation of Fashion Tower as an Individual New York City Landmark.
This highly decorated building was designed by Emery Roth, who would later bring expressive panache to Central Park West, most notably in the Beresford, the San Remo and the El Dorado.
Apparel firms historically leased space here in Fashion Tower precisely because the building’s expressive motifs symbolized all things fashion. This building was built as a symbol of the power of New York City’s Garment District, which has brought style to the nation and the world for more than a century.
Notably, Roth had as much respect for garment workers as he did for owners in the district, which is why this building’s freight entrances are as richly decorated as its main entrances. That respect for industry and labor should guide both this designation and the area’s rezoning. This building, and New York’s fashion industry, deserve recognition and protection as the neighborhood undergoes dramatic change.
HDC is proud to be working with the New York Fashion Workforce Development Coalition to advocate for changes to the rezoning that will support the garment industry and small businesses in the neighborhood, and incentivize the adaptive reuse of the area’s existing historic buildings into housing.
We want to thank the Landmarks Preservation Commission for turning its attention to the neighborhood ahead of the rezoning. We are thrilled that the LPC has calendared five buildings in the Garment District, but we acknowledge that there are many significant buildings left to designate in this area. HDC has shared a list of 14 high priority buildings with the LPC that we hope will be considered for designation.