Waldorf Astoria's Interiors Need Historic Designation, Preservationists Say

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — The company that plans to convert the famed Waldorf Astoria hotel into condos appeared to change its mind on whether it will cooperate with the Landmarks Preservation Commission to designate interior spaces historic landmarks, Bloomberg reported. Anbang Insurance Group, the Chinese company that bought the hotel for $1.95 billion in 2014, told Patch it was never opposed to landmark designation after preservationists said the company refused to work with the LPC on the Waldorf Astoria.

"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."

LPC President Peg Breen told Bloomberg of Anbang's change of heart: "Their representatives were very clear when they were speaking to us that they did not want any interior landmark designation. If they changed their minds now, that's very good news."

New York State Sen. Brad Hoylman sent a letter to the LPC chair to ensure that the commission calendars and designates the hotel's the art deco public interior spaces New York City landmarks. This would ensure that preserving the historic interiors of the Waldorf Astoria would be a legally binding agreement, a spokesperson for Hoylman said Monday.

"I hope the Anbang Insurance Group will act responsibly in preserving the Waldorf's magnificent interiors; however, without the firm protections of an interior landmark designation, the City leaves the fate of this extraordinary space to chance," Hoylman said in a letter to LPC chair Meenakshi Srinivasan dated Sept. 7. "I'm sure New Yorkers would be aghast to learn that under current law even the famous World's Fair clock in the Waldorf's lobby could be dismantled and sold for scrap by the new owners if they so choose!"

Hoylman was referring to a clock in the hotel's lobby built in 1893 for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

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 Credit: Jeffrey Zeldman via Flickr/Creative Commons