FRIENDS' Testimony:

FRIENDS’ Preservation Committee commends the meticulous proposal for the restoration of the Ware apartment building located at the corner of Madison Avenue and East 68th Street. We appreciate the proposed work to clean and repair the building’s limestone, brick, and terra cotta façade, as well as the plans to restore the historic entry door and fabric canopy. The removal of the non-historic storefront on the east side of 68th Street and its replacement with new openings that reflect the building’s original design is a particularly welcome improvement. We are also supportive of the planned infill of existing courtyards, the proposed window upgrades and regroupings, and the addition of new window openings.

While these thoughtful restoration efforts are commendable, the proposed two-story penthouse along with the mechanical bulkhead positioned on top raise significant concerns. As currently designed, these rooftop additions present as overly bulky and detract from the building’s historic character and the established architectural rhythm of Madison Avenue. We urge the applicant to reconsider this portion of the design, advocating for a more refined, terraced massing. This revision should be inspired by the elegant rooftop compositions of distinguished prewar apartment buildings in the immediate vicinity, particularly George Fred Pelham’s design at 15 East 69th Street (Westbury Condominiums) and Emery Roth’s building at 28 East 70th Street. We strongly encourage the applicant to reference these exemplars for their sensitive, stepped-back rooftop additions as models for a revised design that will more effectively complement the Ware building’s distinguished character and its prominent urban presence.

LPC Hearing: 06/10/25