Hearing Date: 6/10/2008
LPC Docket Number: 084746
Manhattan, Block: 745, Lot: 9
351 West 21st Street - Chelsea Historic District
A Greek Revival style rowhouse built in 1847-48. Application is to construct rooftop and rear yard additions.

HDC Testimony
HDC is opposed to the proposed additions as they greatly change the scale and character of the house. 351 West 21st Street is an 1840s Greek Revival rowhouse. True to its style and era, it is small – two rooms deep. The full height, rather long extension would give the house the form of a deeper Victorian brownstone where a central part of the building does not get direct light. In addition, the extension comes out considerably further than the neighboring building, intruding on the garden core. Both the depth and the height of the extension should be reduced to maintain the house’s character and that of the garden core.

LPC Determination: Incomplete

Hearing Date: 6/10/2008
LPC Docket Number: 087201
Brooklyn, Block: 1945, Lot: 4
367 Waverly Avenue - Clinton Hill Historic District
A one-story commercial building. Application is to modify the existing building and construct a new three story addition.

HDC Testimony
It is very nice to see a new building attempting to be in tune with its block in scale and style. HDC feels though that considering the building site’s size and its use, the design is taking its inspiration from the wrong neighbor.

First, the proposed uses two townhouses as a model, but stretches them over the space of three or four distorting the fenestration and proportions. Second, the inspiration for the new structure is a residential building, while the proposed will be mixed commercial and residential. A more fitting example to follow instead would be the building two doors down, a three-story apartment building built c.1870 with a commercial ground floor. A simpler building along these lines with an articulated cornice, punched windows, and ground floor storefronts would allow for new construction that meets the planned use, fits comfortably into the wide lot and still harmonizes nicely with its neighbors.

LPC Determination: Incomplete

Hearing Date: 6/10/2008
LPC Docket Number: 087877
Manhattan, Block: 141, Lot: 28
172 Duane Street - TriBeCa West Historic District
An Italianate store and loft building buit in 1871-1872 and altered in 1988 by Vincenzo Polsinelli. Application is to construct a four-story plus penthouse and roofotp addition.

HDC Testimony
Although this proposal for 172 Duane Street is a very interesting one and could be quite exciting on a non-landmarked building, HDC feels it is inappropriate in an historic district, particularly on a building with such a distinctive design and history.

172 Duane Street is an outstanding little building that, if it were not already in a district, could be considered for Individual Landmarking. The building, most often remembered as the home of Weber Cheese in the heart of the dairy market, was planned and built as a two-story structure. The cast-iron façade, very well restored and cared for, is nicely designed and detailed to make a small building impressive. An addition twice as tall as the original would reduce the historic building to being a pretty little pendant on the large new structure. Rather than bringing the original building to the same height as its neighbors (not necessarily a worthy goal to begin with), the addition would actually be taller. Sometimes small buildings do look as if they are missing something when compared to taller buildings next door. This, however, is not the case of 172 Duane, which the designation report calls “a prominent feature on the block.”

The owner and the architect obviously take great pride and care in 172 Duane Street. They have done an admirable job in its preservation starting before the district was even designated. HDC feels though that adding four stories and a penthouse to a two-story building of such history and design is not acceptable. Approval of this application would set a precedent to consider every small structure throughout the city as a base for something more. Sometimes, a building is just what it is, small. And diminutive can be distinctive.

LPC Determination: Incomplete

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