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New York real estate mogul Aby Rosen continues to make waves over his planned changes for New York’s iconic Four Seasons restaurant. Now he and his RFR Holdings are taking on the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission.
The developer received a tax break on the property when he signed an easement agreement with the commission over it. But this came with certain requirements, such as a timely submission of plans for changes to the location.
Apparently Rosen failed to make said disclosure and so the commission has delayed its meeting on it until May 19th.
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What exactly was so controversial about Rosen’s plans for the restaurant, you might ask. Well they include removing a glass wall in its bar room, turning the restaurants glass covered wine cellar into two bathrooms, reconstructing the bronze roofs of its entrances into a transparent material and turning the walnut panels in the pool room into windows.
Architect Robert A.M. Stern is not pleased with these plans, telling the Wall Street Journal, “It is an ill-advised renovation that will affect the quality of the room.”
Sarah Carroll, executive director of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, told the Journal, “The applicants have to show it to easement holders before it comes to a hearing. We check on applicants to make sure they have done what they have to do.”
RFR issued a statement saying, “Though we respect and value their opinions, New York Landmarks Conservancy input is limited to certain exterior elements.”
