Apple battling community over design of third Manhattan store
Apple Computer has been met with opposition from a local community board in Manhattan over a retail design proposal aimed at transforming a historic Fifth Ave. shop into a glowing two-story Apple retail store.
Following the closing of Andrews Coffee Shop, which operated out of the location since 1982, Apple inked a lease for the 3,500 square-foot location through Winick Reality Group with the intent of removing the building's old facade, replacing it with gray limestone, and also to extending the rooftop. Easier said than done.
Since the Fifth Ave. location sits inside the Ladiesâ Mile Historic District, the local community board was not too thrilled with Apple's proposal. According to The Real Estate Observer, in March the board asked the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) to prevent the computer company from making the renovations. The main point of contention was said to be a massive illuminated Apple logo that would serve as the sole identifier of the store.
Instead of trying to convince the LPC of the merits of its proposed design, Apple reportedly went back to the drawing board and chalked up a new one. Under the revised design, Apple is looking to demolish the existing building completely and replace it with a two-story retail store with an all-glass facade (rendering below). A large illuminated Apple logo would sit centered on the second story.
This latest design is slated to go before the LPC for a vote on Tuesday, July 26th (tomorrow). An Apple spokeswomen declined to comment on the subject, telling the Observer that the company's association to the location at 136 Fifth Ave. is "speculation at this time."
Apple, which operates a flagship retail store in Manhattan's SoHo district, has also enrolled in the construction of a massive retail store in the underground concourse of the General Motors building near Central Park South. The forthcoming flagship location is rumored to open in time for the holidays.
34 Comments
I can see that happening. However, I'm surprised they do not use the opportunity to raise the building height. Real estate is at such a premium in New York, it seems to me they should try to make the most of it. Clearly that location is underutilized.
The building just looks screwy, why not do a granit or limestone facad?
NIMBYs the lot of them. Apple's design is a breath of fresh air in what looks like a pretty decrepit area.
NIMBYs the lot of them. Apple's design is a breath of fresh air in what looks like a pretty decrepit area.
I had two of my own companies in that area for thirty years.
First of all, you know nothing about the area. It is anything but decrepit. It's an area that has expensive co-ops, condo's. Retail, resturants, etc. You can't tell much from those pictures, you have to be there. That is why Apple wants a store there. They only put stores where the area is upscale, which is why people keep asking why Apple doesn't put a store where they live.
The problem is that the rules have been enforced in strange ways, so it's a question as to what can go up. It's not true that a store can't be redone. But it should fit within the "feel" of the area. Having said that, there are stores with modern, and often ugly, fronts. They do inforce rules about signage.
To some degree preservation in NY has gone over board.
It is good for the community to have some voice, but man these days its getting really difficult to build interesting architecture there.
Even Donald Trump has said he does not prefer the bland buildings he often builds in NY. He says they are interesting designs at first, but are neutered by community groups into the bland buildings they become.