FRIENDS' Testimony:

FRIENDS' Preservation Committee can support this project if several key preservation concerns are addressed through meaningful compromises. We recognize that expanding educational facilities is a worthwhile goal and that the school has evolving programmatic needs that benefit the neighborhood. However, changing programmatic needs should not come at the expense of historic fabric or the historic streetscape. Programmatic requirements should be accommodated in ways that respect the historic context and preserve the architectural character that the Landmarks Law is intended to protect.

FRIENDS appreciates the limited scope of work proposed for the Mansion and the retention of the character of the lower terrace. However, we have significant concerns regarding the proposed alterations to Nos. 1307 and 1309, particularly the removal of the continuous cornice to accommodate the rooftop addition.

The designation report identifies Nos. 1305, 1307, and 1309 as a single, unified architectural composition created during George Victor Harvey's substantial 1932–33 renovation. Now nearly a century old, that renovation is itself a significant historic intervention. Harvey added a fourth story to No. 1307, physically linked Nos. 1307 and 1309, and redesigned all three buildings with symmetrical Neo-Georgian facades. Their unified massing, storefronts, fenestration, decorative detailing—including the shallow arches capped by diamond motifs—and the continuous cornice with its central pediment are all cited as character-defining features that make the buildings read as one cohesive architectural ensemble. We therefore urge the Commission to require retention of the existing facades, including the continuous cornice and central pediment, and to mandate a minimum 7.5-foot setback for any rooftop addition as urged by Carnegie Hill Neighbors.

We are also concerned that the proposed bronze and glass rooftop addition is excessively bulky and visually overwhelming, particularly when viewed from the northwest corner of Madison Avenue and East 93rd Street. In addition to the 7.5-foot setback, we urge the Commission to require a more meaningful reduction in scale by eliminating the story immediately below the top floor. Combined with a smaller elevator bulkhead, these changes would substantially reduce the addition's visual impact and make it more compatible with the historic character of the block. With careful consideration of these modifications, the project can move forward in a way that respects the surrounding neighborhood while continuing to support the important work and mission of the school.

LPC Hearing: July 28, 2026