The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission on Sept. 30, 2025 approved with modifications an application to legalize and revise storefront work at the Wilbraham, a designated individual landmark at 284 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, voting 8–0 to permit the replacement of display windows, replacement of nonhistoric cladding with a custom glass-fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) pier, and the installation of channel-mounted signage and interior displays while requiring that signage be shifted so it does not block the building's central piers.

The vote clears work that staff said had been done without LPC permits at the Fifth Avenue and West 30th Street facades and formalizes a revised proposal presented to commissioners. The building, designed by D. and J. Jardine and built in 1888–1890, is a Romanesque Revival apartment-hotel landmark and the changes affect the lowermost storefront base and display windows on both street-facing facades.

Staff presentations said the revised proposal removes previously proposed applied mullions, exposes and paints historic transom windows black with a reversible dark film on the glazing, replaces modern nonhistoric cladding on the Fifth Avenue center pier with a painted GFRC pier matching the texture of the historic pier on West 30th Street, and retains the applicants' proposed unframed doors and interior display structures at two West 30th Street bays. Michelle Crerar, preservation staff, summarized the condition history and the scope of the revised application and noted earlier commissioner comments from the May hearing.

The applicant's representative described the proposed bracket-mounted channel sign. "It kind of hovers in front of the column in the middle," the representative said, explaining a mounting bracket that connects across the pier. Commissioners voiced consistent support for the removal of applied mullions and for exposing transoms, but raised concerns about the proposed placement of the channel-mounted signage over the restored center piers.

"I think they've responded to all of our comments from last time," Commissioner Ginsburg said, endorsing the revisions that removed applied mullions and exposed transoms. Several other commissioners echoed that view on the restoration work but objected to the floating sign over the central carved pier. Commissioner Mann said the proposed signage "is quite disruptive to the architecture," and Commissioner Jefferson added that the "floating of the sign ... doesn't quite work" for him. Multiple commissioners recommended the applicant relocate the signage to the storefront bays or to the sign band so the newly restored pier remains visible.

Commissioner Mahan read findings recommending approval with modifications, noting staff's conclusions that the glazing, proposed bulkheads, the reversible film at the transoms, the limited interior displays, and the painted GFRC pier would be compatible with the building's historic storefront base. The commission adopted Mahan's recommendation and instructed staff to work with the applicant on sliding the channel-mounted signs to either side of the center piers so they do not block the restored architectural element. Commissioner Chen seconded the motion; the chair called the vote and the motion passed unanimously with eight votes in favor and none opposed.

The commission's action legalizes the replacement of the display glazing at West 30th Street that had been installed without LPC permits, confirms the removal of applied mullions from the approved scope, and approves the painted GFRC pier as a replacement for the existing nonhistoric cladding at the Fifth Avenue center pier. The commission also limited the interior display structure to two storefront bays on West 30th Street and accepted staff's finding that the proposed black-painted bulkhead and black transom treatment are reversible or compatible with the building's storefront character.

Next steps: the commission's approval is conditional on the applicant working with LPC staff to revise sign placement so the center piers remain uncovered; staff will review those revisions and manage issuance of any required permits. The record shows the applicants had previously presented the project in May 2025 and returned with the revised drawings that removed applied mullions and repositioned most signage details.