11 Historic Buildings in Midtown Just Got Official City Landmark Status

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) swiftly ushered in a new crop of landmarked buildings in Midtown East on Tuesday, unanimously approving 11 new historic structures at a Tuesday hearing.

The oldest buildings on the roster — erected before the Grand Central Terminal era — included the Minnie E. Young Residence at E. 54th St. and the Erdmann Residence at 57 E. 57th St.

A full list of the new landmarks is listed below, courtesy of the LPC.

• 18 East 41st Street Building
• The Hampton Shops Building, 18-20 East 50th Street
• The Yale Club, 50 Vanderbilt
• The Pershing Square Building, 125 Park Avenue
• The Graybar Building, 420 Lexington Avenue
• 400 Madison Avenue
• The Shelton Hotel
• The Beverly Hotel
• Hotel Lexington
• Minnie E. Young Residence
• Martin Erdmann Residence

The only building that sparked much discussion was the Pershing Building, located at 125 Park Ave. and constructed in 1923. Some at the meeting worried its new status as a protected landmark might hinder future transit projects, seeing as it's situated directly across from Grand Central Terminal.

But Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer dismissed those worries at Tuesday's hearing.
“In the case of the Pershing Square Building at 125 Park Avenue, some will claim that designation will undercut potential for future improvements to our mass transit system," Brewer said. "So let me be clear: Preservation serves a legitimate public purpose and is a lasting benefit, as fully as subway access."

The Pershing Building "played a special role in the development of the city’s mass transit system," Brewer said, "and we should not cast that history or its wonderful terra cotta cladding aside.”

The rest of the buildings were landmarked without ado — concluding a process dating back to last year, when the LPC presented the list of proposed landmarks to the city's East Midtown Steering Committee.

In the end, the committee urged the LPC to move forward quickly and designate the landmarks — thus ensuring the neighborhood's breakneck construction schedule wouldn't interfere with its historic nature.

"As we revitalize East Midtown as a world class office district, we also need to protect its world class architectural history,” Council Member Dan Garodnick said in a statement. “We worked closely with the LPC to ensure noteworthy buildings were landmarked before the City did a rezoning here, and I am glad to see our efforts come to fruition. It is important that our past is preserved as we prepare for the future.”

Lead photo of the Pershing Square Building via Google Maps