81-50 Special Regulations for the Penn Center Subdistrict

In order to establish the Penn Center Subdistrict as a destination and enhance its retail, entertainment and commercial character and expand accessibility to its transportation network, special regulations are set forth governing the location and type of signs, urban design and streetscape relationships, and the improvement of pedestrian circulation to and from public transit facilities.

The regulations of Section 81-50 are applicable only in the Penn Center Subdistrict, the boundaries of which are shown on Map 1 (Special Midtown District and Subdistricts) in Appendix A of this Chapter, except as set forth for rail mass transit facility improvements, pursuant to Section 81-541. These regulations supplement or modify the provisions of this Chapter applying generally to the Special Midtown District, of which this Subdistrict is a part.

The provisions of this Section shall apply to all zoning lots with frontage along Seventh Avenue. The height of all signs shall be measured from the curb level.

(a)        Signs, including advertising signs, flashing signs and illuminated signs, unlimited in area, shall be permitted to a height of 40 feet. Below a height of 14 feet, such signs shall not occupy more than 50 percent of the glazed street wall surface required, pursuant to Section 81-42, nor shall such signs be located within 10 feet of an entrance to a rail mass transit facility or subway station.

(b)        Signs, including advertising signs, flashing signs and illuminated signs, except as otherwise provided in Section 8152, paragraph (c), may be permitted above a height of 40 feet by the City Planning Commission, upon certification that:

(1)        such signs and sign structures to which signs are attached shall not exceed a height of 60 feet; except that signs and sign structures onto which signs are attached, within 40 feet of the intersection of two streets or within 30 feet of the centerline of the westerly prolongation of West 32nd Street along the west block front of Seventh Avenue between West 31st and West 33rd Streets, shall not exceed a height of 100 feet;

(2)        such signs above a height of 60 feet are located on zoning lots that contain an entrance to, or are adjacent to, an entrance to a rail mass transit facility and/or subway station;

(3)        such signs shall not project across a street line more than 18 inches for double or multifaceted signs or 12 inches for other signs, except that signs within 40 feet of the intersection of two streets may project up to three feet across a street line above a height of 25 feet;

(4)        such signs that exceed a height of 60 feet, shall be no wider than 40 feet each;

(5)        such signs or sign structures that exceed a height of 60 feet, may include lighting effects at the top of such sign structure and such lighting effects shall not exceed a height of 10 feet above such sign or sign structure.

(6)        such signs and sign structures onto which signs are attached within 30 feet of the centerline of the westerly prolongation of West 32nd Street shall have a minimum clearance of 10 feet from the adjacent building, and such sign structure shall have a minimum clearance of 20 feet from the street line in order not to obstruct visibility of the transit entrance from the street;

(7)        on zoning lots that contain an entrance to, or are adjacent to, an entrance to a rail mass transit facility and/or subway station, the requirements for rail mass transit or subway entrance informational signs of Section 81521 are met; and

(8)        monies will be deposited into an escrow account or similar fund established by the City, to be used at the direction of the Chairperson of the City Planning Commission and the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation, acting in consultation with the Metropolitan Transit Authority, as necessary, for streetscape and for abovegrade and belowgrade pedestrian circulation improvements within the Penn Center Subdistrict. For the period through January 1, 2003, and thereafter, until adjusted by rule of the City Planning Commission pursuant to the City Administrative Procedure Act, such sign contribution shall be equal to $30 per square foot of sign permitted above a height of 40 feet. Any net increase in the surface area of a previously approved sign shall require a new certification and the deposit of a supplemental sign contribution in an amount reflective of such increase.

Alternatively, an applicant may, at the time of the first certification for a sign at a location under its control, deposit a sign contribution in an amount equal to $20 per square foot of sign above a height of 40 feet for the total amount of square footage of all signs eligible for certification at locations under the applicant's control. The deposit of monies under this alternative procedure shall not relieve the applicant of the requirement to seek and obtain a certification for each such sign, pursuant to this paragraph (b), prior to installation.

For purposes of this paragraph (b), the square footage of the sign shall mean the surface area of a sign, except that it shall also include the area of any structural frame or similar enclosure in which the sign is located or to which it is attached. No sign for which a certification has been received shall be installed prior to deposit of the sign contribution in accordance with this paragraph (b).

(c)        Signs above a height of 40 feet on any building listed on the State and/or National Register of Historic Places, or any building formally determined eligible for inclusion on the Register, may be permitted upon authorization by the City Planning Commission, that:

(1)        the proposed method of attachment of such signs shall be reversible;

(2)        such signs shall not be disruptive to the historic fabric of the building;

(3)        such signs shall comply with all other requirements of paragraph (b) of this Section;

(4)        the requirements for rail mass transit or subway entrance informational signs of Section 81521 are met; and

(5)        monies shall be deposited into an escrow account or similar fund established by the City, to be used at the direction of the Chairperson of the City Planning Commission and the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation, acting in consultation with the Metropolitan Transit Authority, as necessary, for streetscape and for above-grade and belowgrade pedestrian circulation improvements within the Penn Center Subdistrict. For the period through January 1, 2003, and thereafter, until adjusted by rule of the City Planning Commission pursuant to the City Administrative Procedure Act, such sign contribution shall be equal to $30 per square foot of sign permitted above a height of 40 feet. For purposes of this paragraph (c), the square footage of the sign shall mean the surface area of a sign, except that it shall also include the area of any structural frame or similar enclosure in which the sign is located or to which it is attached. No sign for which an authorization has been approved shall be installed prior to deposit of the sign contribution in accordance with this paragraph (c), or the alternative sign contribution provided in paragraph (b)(8) of this Section.

Any net increase in the surface area of a previously approved sign shall require a new authorization and the deposit of a supplemental sign contribution in an amount reflective of such increase.

For a zoning lot that contains or is adjacent to an entrance or entrances to a rail mass transit facility or subway station, no permit shall be issued for any signs that extend or are located above a height of 40 feet, unless the City Planning Commission certifies that each such entrance is clearly identified with rail mass transit or subway entrance informational signs and marquees in accordance with paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section. Such rail mass transit or subway entrance informational sign or marquee shall remain, or be upgraded or replaced by a similar sign or marquee, for the life of the related development.

(a)        Rail mass transit or subway entrance informational signs shall prominently identify the entrance on both streets of a corner lot. Where rail mass transit or subway entrance informational signs are provided at the western block front of Seventh Avenue between West 31st and West 33rd Streets, such signs shall prominently identify the entrance to Pennsylvania Station to pedestrians on both Seventh Avenue and West 32nd Street. All such informational signs shall comply with the following requirements:

(1)        such signs shall contain only transit information;

(2)        such signs shall be illuminated and located no less than 12 feet above and no more than 25 feet above curb level;

(3)        such signs shall contain the word "Subway" and/or appropriate other rail mass transit identification and transit line symbols. The graphic standards shall adhere to New York City Transit or other pertinent transit agency standards with all letters no less than three feet and transit symbols no less than two feet in dimension;

(4)        such signs shall be no less than 30 feet in length on each street and shall extend farther than 30 feet in order to include the actual entrance; and

(5)        such signs may project up to five feet beyond the street line.

(b)        At the rail mass transit or subway entrance, a marquee shall be provided to further identify the entrance and shall:

(1)        contain only transit sign information;

(2)        be illuminated and located no less than 12 feet above and no more than 25 feet above curb level;

(3)        have a minimum length of 20 feet or the full width of the entrance, whichever is less;

(4)        project no less than five feet beyond the transit or subway informational sign; and

(5)        include illuminated mass transit identification and transit line symbols that meet the New York City Transit or other pertinent transit agency standards.

The provisions of Section 81-43 (Street Wall Continuity Along Designated Streets) shall apply, except that the street wall of all buildings along the Seventh Avenue frontage of zoning lots shall be a minimum of 85 feet above curb level or the full height of the building, whichever is less. All other provisions of Section 81-43 shall apply without modification.

In addition, the restrictions on permitted recesses contained in Section 81-43 shall not apply to pedestrian circulation spaces provided in accordance with Sections 81-46 (Off-street Relocation or Renovation of a Subway Stair) or 81-48 (Off-street Improvement of Access to Rail Mass Transit Facility) nor to interstitial spaces between signs or between building walls and signs.