In About-Face, Emmet Building Owner Trashes Landmark Status

MURRAY HILL, NY — The disgruntled owner of the recently landmarked Emmet Building in Murray Hill blasted the Landmarks Preservation Commission for "inexplicable behavior" and called on the City Council to rescind the building's landmark status at a Tuesday hearing. The stance is a stark departure from previous remarks made by the owners in support of the designation.

“My experience these last few weeks has shocked me, I have discovered that the LPC is a sewer of influence pedaling, shady practices, meetings conducted in secret behind owners backs and with no notification before or after such meetings," groused Rita Sklar, whose family owns 95 Madison Avenue at 29th Street, at a council subcommittee hearing. “I am asking that lot 858’s designation be rejected at this time and that in the future when LPC has cleaned up its inexplicable behavior [that the building] can be once again considered for landmarking."

Commission officials designated the Emmet Building a landmark in March, noting how the Neo-Renaissance building helped transform the area north of Madison Square Park from a tony residential neighborhood into a thriving commercial area. The sixteen-story building was unique for its time because it mixed office space with residential use for the property's owners, according to the commission.

The Sklars, which have owned the building for three generations, have been working to restore the property to its 1912 grandeur since the 1990s and have installed original turn-of-the-century features. An estimated $3 million has been invested in the building's restoration.

At the City Council's Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting and Maritime Uses hearing, Sklar questioned some of the commission's decisions involving a renovation at the property. She also called on the landmark status designation to be reverse so the building's long-time restoration can continue unimpeded by red tape.

“We since 1970 have maintained and restored this property above landmark standard without anyone twisting our arm and without applications or anything else," said Sklar. "There is another section of our restoration that is in progress and it stands to completely trash my building if you people do not reject this application at this time.”

By law, a landmark designation is effective upon the Commission's vote, and all landmarks law becomes applicable. Within 10 days the commission files a final report with the City Council and to the City Planning Commission. A notice of designation is also sent to the owners and the City Clerk's Office, according to a spokeswoman from the Landmark Preservation Commission.

City planning has 60 days to review and submit a report to council about the impacts on a given area and the council has 120 days from the commission's filing to modify or disapprove a landmark designation. In theory, the Mayor can veto a council vote within five days, but that has never happened before.

“Once the landmark votes to landmark something it is a landmark, does it go through another process after that? Yes," said commission spokeswoman Zodet Negrón. “The owner’s consent is not necessary but that’s what we strive for.”

The City Council's Land Use Committee voted in favor of the Emmet Building's designation on Wednesday. The final step will be for Council to vote on the building's status

Photo courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission