Waldorf Astoria Interiors Could Be Landmarked By February

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — The city landmarks commission held a public hearing Wednesday to discuss extending landmarks designation to several interior spaces of the Waldorf Astoria before the Midtown Manhattan institution is shut down and converted into a condominium building.

The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) identified several spaces on the first four floors of the hotel which could be landmarked as early as February.

The areas identified for landmarks consideration in the hotel's ground floor included the Park Avenue vestibules and foyer and the Lexington Avenue vestibules and foyer. On the building's first floor the Park Avenue lobby and colonnade, West Lounge (formerly Peacock Alley), west elevator lobby, main lobby, main lobby hall, east arcade, Lexington Avenue stairs and landing all may get landmarks status.

Spaces on the hotel's second floor up for landmarks consideration include the Lexington Avenue stairs and landing. Some of the largest swaths of interior that could gain landmarks designation are located on the hotel's third floor, including the Lexington Avenue stairs and landing, the grand ballroom and balconies, the ballroom entrance hall, the ballroom foyer, the Basildon boom, the jade Room, Astor gallery and the foyer connecting the jade gallery and Astor gallery with Lexington Avenue stairs.

All of the fixtures and components of these spaces — such as surfaces, murals, mirrors, chandeliers, lighting fixtures, attached furnishings, doors, railings and balustrades, decorative metalwork and attached decorative — would also be awarded landmarks designation, according to the LPC agenda.

The Anbang Insurance Group, a Chinese company, bought the hotel for $1.95 billion in 2014 with the intention of converting it into a condo building. In September Anbang told Patch that it does not plan to challenge the landmarking of interior sections of the hotel.

"Anbang has never said it is opposed to landmark designation," Anbang said in a statement to Patch. "We are committed to working cooperatively and collaboratively with the Landmarks Preservation Commission to achieve an outcome that respects and r‎einvigorates the Waldorf Astoria for the next 100 years."

The building that houses the Waldorf Astoria was built in 1931. The hotel's exterior was designated a historic landmark in 1993, but its interiors have not yet been designated as one. Anbang is required to submit an application to the LPC anyway on its anticipated changes to the hotel to ensure its plans won't affect the exterior of the building. The Department of Buildings will then have to approve the plan.

Photo by Jeffrey Zeldman via Flickr/Creative Commons