Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director and  Andrew D. Hamingson, Executive Director at The Public Theater and James Polshek and  Polshek Partners presented a Landmarks application to alter the entrance and signage at the Public Theater.  Seemingly simple, the new management team, and lauded institutional architect firm (see NY Times article on preservation), evidently made their rounds of pre-hearing presentations to electeds in early October.  The first we learned of the application was around Nov. 1st with the CB#2 hearing scheduled three days hence.  In a nutshell this proposal is designed to give maximum attention to The Public Theater in the landscape of Astor Place:  a 30' plaza extending into the Lafayette St roadbed, an 18' by 75' stoop with stairs on three sides and six billboards permanently set into the sidewalk of 10' height and 4' width.  Additional to these features are inset sidewalk lighting along the curb, building lighting to enhance the architecture of the three buildings that make up The Public and more prominent banners. 

UPDATE:   The CB#2 Full Board approved an amended Landmarks Committee resolution advising that the stoop be reduced to 10' depth, the bumpout sidewalk be eliminated and that signage plan should be revisited.  Friends of NoHo advocated for the amended resolution.  Read amended resolution here. 

The LPC largely approved of this mammoth plaza plan though thankfully several LPC Commissioners suggested reducing the size of the stoop; more Commissioners recommended reduction in the lighting plan, especially the inset lights at the curb, all recommended reductions in the billboards. Unfortunately none of them recognized the opportunity to place Theater Bills in the very large well-lit windows on the first floor for the entire length of the building – windows that are now blocked from the inside anyway. What a missed opportunity.

Perhaps more cogent than all of this however, is that New York City owns this building, The Public rents it. Budgets and cultural allowances from the Mayor's office down to City Counselors are generously given to the Public. While it is encouraging that tax payer dollars go toward cultivating the Arts - a practice to be commended - one wonders if bankrolling a grand entrance is the best use of our tax dollars, when something less grand and just as useful would meet the need and compliment the distinctive building as well. One would hope that more City funds would be allocated toward what is created inside...or even, perhaps, to affordable tickets.

Interestingly the Department of Transportation (DOT) has usurped the public process by pre-approving the gratuitous sidewalk extension, though we understand one reason for this is that The Public has offered to pay for it (though these may be our tax dollars, anyway).

UPDATE:  On Monday, Nov. 24 the Borough President's Office is convening a discussion between NoHo, elected officials and The Public to consider more mutually agreeable revisions to this plan.

The next step is the public approval process for the consent to have a stoop and signs on public property. One hopes that The Department of Transportation or the New York City Corp Counsel will not find a way to usurp that process, too, so that sounder minds might prevail and The Public can go about its business of creating great theater.

Amended CB#2 Landmarks Committee Resolution
Friends of NoHo Letter
NoHoManhattan.org Letter
Letter from Andrew Fisher, DaVinne Press Building