The Plaza Paradox

Despite Ron Lauder's protestations over the sullying of the Plaza Hotel's lobby, the city Landmarks Preservation Commission voted today in favor of changing the zoning designation to permit shops in the mezzanine's Terrace Room, a commission spokeswoman told The Real Estate.

The zoning change has to go before the city Planning Commission as well. The trick is, at the same meeting, the Terrace Room got landmarked, along with the Oak Room and six other spaces.

That means that before the new owner, Elad Properties, can put in a Thomas Pink, it will have to go back to the landmarks commission with new plans. And they can fight about it all over again.

- Matthew Schuerman