§ 4-02 Treatment of Designated Broadway Theater Exteriors (Theater Exterior Guidelines).
RCNY § 4-02
(a)Preface. Work may be done on designated exterior portions of theaters either without application to the Commission, or with a Certificate of No Effect on Protected Architectural Features (CNE) if the proposed work is in accordance with the following guidelines: (1) For production-related work, no application to LPC is needed if the guidelines set forth in 63 RCNY § 4-02(b)(1) below are followed, but the owner must submit a written description to the LPC, prior to undertaking the work, clearly delineating the scope of the proposed work. This description should also include steps to be taken after the end of the production to return the exterior to its prior condition if significant architectural features are proposed to be altered.
(2)For permanent alterations, application to LPC is necessary and a CNE will be issued by staff if in accordance with the guidelines set forth in 63 RCNY § 4-02(b)(2) below.
(3)Applications for work not in accordance with the guidelines will be subject to the usual landmark review procedure as set forth in Chapter 3 of Title 25 of the Administrative Code. Note: The guidelines are keyed to underlined portions of the Description Section of the Designation Reports, which identify architecturally significant features requiring protection.
(b)Guidelines.
(1)Production-related changes. No permit is needed for the following work, if the stated conditions are met: (i) The installation of new signage or alteration of existing signage, lighting, or other advertisement, provided that anchorages do not physically affect architectural features underlined in the designation report description. (Changing of light box fillers, posters, photos, etc. would not require review or notice to the Commission.) (ii) Painting of exterior surfaces, if they were previously painted.
(iii)Alterations or additions to any undeveloped portions of the theatre exterior, provided that the protected features of a designated interior are not affected.
(iv)Any alterations to underlined exterior architectural features in the report that are reversible. (A reversible alteration is one in which the altered feature can be returned to its appearance prior to the alteration.) (v) Removal of any feature which has not been identified in the Description Section of the Designation Report of the theater.
(vi)For theaters in which the exterior is designated only for cultural and historical significance, any alteration to the facade may be made provided that: (A) Lighted signage and advertisements for productions are utilized. (B) Continuous entrance doors are maintained between the lobby and the street and the auditorium and the street, where they presently exist. (C) A marquee is utilized to shelter the sidewalk adjacent to the entrance doors referred to in 63 RCNY § 4-02(b)(1)(vi)(B).
(i)The installation of new signage or alteration of existing signage, lighting, awnings, marquees or other advertisements, provided that anchorages do not physically affect architectural features underlined in the Description Section of the Designation Report and that the signage, lighting, or awning of marquee is not architecturally significant in itself.
(ii)Any alteration or additions to any portion of the theater exterior not visible from the public way, provided that the protected features of the exterior of any designated interior are not affected.
