The Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the former 12-story headquarters of the B. F. Goodrich Company at 1780 Broadway between 57th and 59th Streets a landmark by a vote of 6 to 3.

The commission, however, decided to "de-calendar" that building's 8-story wing at 225 East 57th Street that had been under consideration for designation.

Both buildings were designed in 1909 by Howard Van Doren Shaw and were connected at the rear at the base in a L-shaped configuration.

Both buildings are owned by Extell Development and are part of a larger assemblage on the block extending east to the Art Students League and Extell reportedly has plans for a major mixed-use tower on the site.

After the commission calendared both buildings for a single designation a few months ago, Extell reportedly put forward a compromise that asked the commission to leave 225 West 57th Street out of any designation.

Last August 11, the Municipal Art Society of New York testified before the commission in support of the designation of the two buildings that were built for the B. F. Goodrich Company in 1909. The society had urged the commission in 2004 to designate both buildings and "were particularly concerned about the fate of the 57th Street facade."

"While the Broadway building was used by B. F. Goodrich as its headquarters, the 57th Street building was rented out to other automobile-related companies like Stoddard Dayton. The fact that the 57th Street building was built for speculative purposes in no way lessens its architectural and historical significance....Despite their different heights, the two buildings make use of identical materials and are both designed in a style that can best described as the Chicago-style influence on Viennese Secessionism (or vice versa), a combination not seen anywhere else in New York City. Shaw's interpretation and adaptation of these blended architectural styles differs slightly on each building, making the pair all the more interesting architecturally," the society argued.

The New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, however, told the commission that the 57th Street building did not have "the same panache" as the Broadway building and it therefore did not merit designation.

"As representatives of a professional society of architects concerned with both the past and the future, it is hard for us to ignore the likelihood that a significant new structure will be built at this extremely important location. In today's recession, not many are planning the landmarks of the future. Those that are, including the presenters from Extell, should be encouraged in their efforts to save and preserve the landmark quality of 1780 Broadway. They should not be burdened by the retention of a much less significant building such as 225 West 57th Street," the chapter argued.

An article yesterday by Elliot Brown of observer.com said that the designation of both buildings is "a move that Extell says would force it to scrap the giant mixed-use tower it has planned for the site," adding that Extell has enlisted "unions and four powerful elected officials to push back at the designations."

Today, Mr. Brown observed that Robert Tierney, the commission's chairman, said that "in light of opposition to this designation from the City Council, and certain members of the City Council, the likelihood that that body will overturn any designation of 225 West 57th Street, I believe that in this case...the commission should make its priority the designation of the building for which there is a consensus of support."

Mr. Brown wrote that after the commission's vote, Simeon Bankoff, the executive director of the Historic Districts Council, told him that he did not think the commission should be considering politics and that its vote "opens the door to being an owner-consent situation."

His article indicated that Extell is "talking to a couple of architects...obviously, the design will be slightly modified due to the preservation of 1780."