771-76-BZ APPLICANT – Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, for Intergate Manhattan LLC, owner. SUBJECT – Application September 10, 2018– Amendment of a previously approved Variance (§72- 21) that permitted the installation of an illuminated sign that exceeded the surface area along a district boundary and the height above curb level. The Amendment seeks to modify the previously approved sign to permit a digital sign and the new sign will be able to display messages for any principal use on the zoning lot, as opposed to a single principal use on the zoning lot. C6- 4 zoning district. PREMISES AFFECTED – 375 Pearl Street, Block 114 Lot(s) 1001-1005, Borough of Manhattan. COMMUNITY BOARD #1M Application Denied. ACTION OF THE BOARD – THE VOTE TO GRANT – Affirmative: ………………………………..…………0 Negative: Chair Perlmutter, Vice-Chair Chanda, Commissioner Ottley-Brown, Commissioner Sheta and Commissioner Scibetta…………..……………………5 THE RESOLUTION – WHEREAS, this is an application under ZR §§ 72-01 and 72-22 for an amendment to a variance, previously granted by the Board in 1977, to permit, over 500 feet above curb level on a 32-story commercial building, the substitution of an existing backlit accessory pin-mounted sign that reads “Verizon” with a new illuminated digital sign with changeable copy identifying at 120-second intervals the various tenants of the subject building; and WHEREAS, a public hearing was held on this application on January 8, 2019, after due notice by publication in The City Record, with a continued hearing on March 5, 2019, and then to decision on May 7, 2019; and WHEREAS, Chair Perlmutter, Vice-Chair Chanda, Commissioner Ottley-Brown and Commissioner Scibetta performed inspections of the site and surrounding neighborhood; and WHEREAS, Community Board 1, Manhattan, recommends approval of this application on condition that the proposed sign’s display interval be increased to at least 60–120 seconds with a fade in and fade out interval longer than 6 seconds, that the proposed sign should perhaps be located higher on the building and that the applicant return to Community Board 1 within two (2) years to discuss and consider adjustments to the proposed sign’s light emission, image intervals and other mechanical controls should there be any complaints; and WHEREAS, by letter dated December 17, 2018, the Department of City Planning (“DCP”) submitted testimony about this application, citing “serious concerns with the proposal”; specifically, DCP notes that the proposed sign would have the ability to display 1 771-76-BZ approved drawings to permit the replacement of the illuminated accessory sign with a different emblem— the logo for Verizon—that reduced the surface area of the approved sign from 1,018 square feet to 1,015 square feet but maintained its character as a non- flashing static sign; and WHEREAS, by letter dated October 4, 2016, the Board stated that it had no objection to the installation of additional accessory signs at the subject site on condition that the Department of Buildings (“DOB”) ensure their compliance with all applicable zoning regulations; and WHEREAS, by letter dated May 24, 2018, the Board denied a request to approve a new illuminated sign with a digital display and changeable copy as substantially compliant with the 1977 variance grant, citing concerns that the proposal may disturb the original variance findings; and WHEREAS, the applicant now seeks to amend the variance to allow the substitution of the existing pin- mounted backlit Verizon sign with an illuminated sign with a digital display and continuously changing copy; and WHEREAS, the applicant states that the proposed sign is an illuminated accessory sign to be located at a height of 541’-5” above curb level with a surface area of 1,018 square feet; and WHEREAS, the applicant states that the only difference between the proposed sign and the existing sign is an upgrade in technology; and WHEREAS, the applicant states that the proposed sign would operat

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