LP-2689
29th Street Towers – 214-226 West 29th Street
ITEM PROPOSED FOR PUBLIC HEARING
A pair of connected 14- and 16-story tall Gothic Revival-style commercial buildings designed by Henry I. Oser in 1925.
As the citywide advocate for New York’s architectural, historical and cultural neighborhoods, The Historic Districts Council supports the designation of the 29th Street Towers as an Individual New York City Landmark.
These Gothic Revival style towers, designed by Henry I. Oser includes mottled terra cotta, an arched entrance, historic metal storefronts, and eye-catching set backs that artistically comply with zoning code. Like the other proposed buildings for landmarking in the Garment District, the first floor was designed with motifs that symbolize the building’s function. These towers were originally constructed for fur manufacturing, so naturally decorative grotesques visualize an alternating pattern of a man holding and feeding a beaver and then inspecting a pelt. All in all, this serves as a symbol of New York’s largest industries, garment and fur manufacturing, and should be landmarked for the generations to come.
We want to thank the Landmarks Preservation Commission for turning its attention to the neighborhood ahead of its rezoning. We are thrilled that the LPC has calendared five buildings in the Garment District. We reiterate 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.