1133 Fifth Avenue

Building Name

2. 1133 Fifth Avenue

Architect

Emery Roth

Year(s) Built

1927-1928

Designation

Expanded Carnegie Hill Historic Districts

Project Information:

A neo-Federal style apartment building designed by Emery Roth and built in 1927-1928. Application is to modify an existing rooftop addition, install pergolas, replace railings, modify masonry openings, and replace windows.

CB8 Hearing: 10/18/21 (Approved)
LPC Hearing: 10/26/21 (Approved with modifications)

FRIENDS' Testimony:

The Hungarian-Jewish immigrant, Emery Roth, is responsible for many of the hotels and apartment buildings that defined the 1920s and 1930s in New York City. 1133 Fifth Avenue is a classic example of Roth’s design, with the characteristic highly designed water tower. FRIENDS appreciates the detailed presentation of this proposal and would like to commend the architect and consultants.

The removal of the greenhouse at the Fifth Avenue façade is a very welcomed change, one that will allow for a better appreciation of the building as a whole and of the water tower. Despite its very low visibility, FRIENDS Preservation Committee is slightly concerned about the extensive glazing on the west portion of the rooftop addition on Fifth Avenue and would ask the applicant to consider a more balanced ratio between masonry and glazing.

We believe the proposal to replace the rear greenhouse with masonry to be very significant, and while it reads more densely and obtrusively than the existing addition, it relates better with the staccato stepped-back pattern of the upper stories commonly present on 1920s apartment buildings.

Finally, FRIENDS laments the fact that the fenestration of this fine Roth design is now a hodge-podge of styles and sizes, something that can be remediated by the establishment of a window master plan.

LPC Hearing: