The Landmarks Preservation Commission approved on July 15 an application to restore the ground‑floor storefronts, add a barrier‑free access ramp, install a modest marquee, and consolidate rooftop bulkheads at 43 Bleecker Street in the NoHo East Historic District. Erin Ruley, preservation consultant, summarized the project as an adaptive reuse to convert the building for residential use and described extensive historic photographic evidence used to inform storefront reconstruction.

The proposal restores surviving cast‑iron and sheet‑metal cornice details, replicates ornamental wrought‑iron grills at the storefront bulkhead, replaces nonhistoric infill with new aluminum storefront units, and introduces a painted diamond‑plate ADA ramp that will provide access to the eastern commercial and residential entries. The proposed marquee projects 4 feet 6 inches and features halo‑lit pin‑mounted letters; applicants removed an earlier plan for a second 9‑foot marquee after community board comment.

On rooftop work, the applicants proposed consolidating stair bulkheads, mechanical screening, and elevator overruns; Commissioner Ginsburg asked whether the elevator overrun height was the minimum required and was told the elevator machinery requires roughly 23 feet above the roof deck. Commissioners generally found the rooftop additions appropriate in scale compared with other NoHo rooftop accretions but requested that the applicant work with staff to reduce visibility where feasible and refine details.

Preservation commenters expressed support for restoring the historic storefront composition but asked the applicant to replicate bulkhead heights and to provide more refined storefront framing details. Christina Conroy of the Victorian Society remarked, "The existing bulkheads are not original, do not align, and are too tall...The existing bulkheads should be reconstructed to their correct positions and the new grills better integrated with them rather than being stuck on as appliques." The applicant responded that probes indicate surviving historic bulkhead elements beneath cladding and that new wood bulkheads will be configured to match historic proportions and hold replicated grills.

The commission's approval included staff follow‑up: applicants must work with LPC staff to refine storefront details (moldings, bulkhead heights and muntin/mullion profiles) and to explore reducing rooftop visibility; the commission found the ramp, marquee and consolidated bulkheads acceptable in concept.

Ending note: The commission approved the application by recorded vote and asked the applicant to return with finalized storefront detailing and coordination with staff before construction.