Hearing Date: 5/20/2008
LPC Docket Number: 087854
Brooklyn, Block: 7777, Lot: 7777
Ashland Place and Lafayette Avenue - Brooklyn Academy of Music Historic District
Residential thoroughfares developed in the 1850s. Application is to install light poles, tree pits, and alter the sidewalk paving.

HDC Testimony
HDC feels that any alterations to streetscapes should begin with looking at a district’s designation report to understand the special qualities for which a neighborhood was designated. It is then the designer’s job to come up with a plan that relates to the essence of the district.

This proposal was rather unclear about what exactly exists presently and what is being proposed, as well as why. We do not feel the cobra head lights, lamps that other neighborhoods have sought to replace, are appropriate here. In addition to their design, they seem to be more to light traffic and street than the pedestrians on the sidewalk.

The treatment of large circles around tree pits and scattered across the sidewalk creates the appearance of missing trees or an overabundance of manhole covers. Again, HDC questions why this design is proposed. We understand the impulse to mark a culture center, and it's not a bad thing, but it is unclear what exactly is driving the design?

Referring back to the designation report, the Brooklyn Academy of Music Historic District is noted for its row houses built primarily in the Italianate style during a brief four year period between 1855 and 1859, the Brooklyn Academy of Music designed by noted theater architects Herts and Tallant and built 1907-1908, and the 1927 Williamsburgh Savings Bank, the most prominent feature of the Brooklyn sky line. HDC does not believe the proposed has any relation to any of these notable features of the historic district and urges the applicant to work with staff to find a plan that does.

LPC Determination: Approved

Hearing Date: 5/20/2008
LPC Docket Number: 087847
Brooklyn, Block: 2121, Lot: 46
67 Greene Avenue - Fort Greene Historic District
A vacant lot. Application is to legalize excavation work performed without LPC permits and to construct a 4-story building.

HDC Testimony
HDC is not able to comment on the first part of this proposal, to legalize excavation performed without LPC permits, as no materials regarding this matter were included at public review. We can only stress the need for proper underpinning and monitoring of neighboring historic structures. As the applicant choose to do this work without proper permission, an especially watchful eye should be kept on the project.

Assuming all is well with the excavation, HDC would like to comment on aspects of the design for the new building. 61-69 Greene Avenue were built c.1860 as row of five Italianate style homes. At the time of designation, 67 was the most well preserved of the row. Raised on a rusticated brownstone basement, it retained its stoop, slab stone doorway lintel with foliate brackets, wooden bracketed cornice, and many other details. As the presentation has shown, the building sadly fell into disrepair and had to be demolished. Much effort has been made in this proposal to replicate the original structure with one glaring exception. The full-floor basement is not appropriate as it squashes the other floors and throws off the fenestration of rowhouses. The taller basement makes for a very steep stoop, the practicality of which we question. We now understand from the presentation that the basement height is based on the illegal cellar excavation and stress that illegal work should not direct the design of a new building. Also more attention needs to be paid to the detail of the cornice.

HDC feels this building, in the middle of the row, should either be rebuilt to replicate the original or a different design be found, making it clear that this structure is not part of the group.

LPC Determination: Approved w/mods

Hearing Date: 5/20/2008
LPC Docket Number: 087753
Brooklyn, Block: 5238, Lot: 66
718 East 18th Street - Fiske Terrace-Midwood Park Historic District
A Colonial Revival style house designed by Benjamin Driesler and built in 1907. Application is to construct a bay window and rear addition.

HDC Testimony
HDC approves of the bay window proposed for the side of this home, and the addition appears to be of an appropriate size. Our only concern is with the rear fenestration. Why not use French doors rather than the sliding glass doors proposed and double-hung windows, seen throughout the home, instead of single panes? We also feel the odd row of floating transom windows is not the best choice for this façade. As this is one of the first C of A applications for this new historic district, we urge the applicant and staff to work on proposal that harmonizes with this lovely home.

LPC Determination: Approved

Hearing Date: 5/20/2008
LPC Docket Number: 087047
Brooklyn, Block: 5180, Lot: 1
1600 Dorchester Road - Ditmas Park Historic District
A Colonial Revival style house designed by Benjamin Driesler, built in 1904, and enlarged in 1908 by Frank Stanley. Application is to create a curb cut and install a parking pad.

HDC Testimony
In general, HDC dislikes the creation of new curb cuts. These interruptions to our city’s sidewalks, rather than easing parking problems, create the loss of a parking space on the street while introducing traffic to the pedestrian way. The parking pad with just two strips of cement is simple enough (although examples presented show similar pads leading to garages, not just parking on the lawn), but, of course, a parking spot without a curb cut is not practical. May we suggest that an arrangement be made to share the neighbor’s curb cut just adjacent to this space? This arrangement would mean no new curb cut would be needed, and the car would be hidden partially by shrubbery.

LPC Determination: Approved

Hearing Date: 5/20/2008
LPC Docket Number: 087305
Manhattan, Block: 566, Lot: 18
20 East 9th Street - Greenwich Village Historic District
An apartment house built in 1965. Application is to enlarge ground floor window openings.

HDC Testimony
In November of 2007 an application to alter storefronts on the Brevoort East came before this Commission. While the proposal was approved (with one abstention and one opposed), Commissioners voiced a concern about 1960s architecture. It was commented that not many applications for building of this era had been heard, but such structures were important and deserving of preservation as a layer of our city’s history. Unlike the storefronts, these windows have not been modified over the years – they are what the architect intended them to be. As they are now, the windows are the same length as and align with others on the façade. The alteration of these window openings will only lead to proposals for further changes. There is no practical reason to change this original design, and HDC urges the commission to reject this application.

LPC Determination: Approved

Hearing Date: 5/20/2008
LPC Docket Number: 087721
Manhattan, Block: 823, Lot: 23
29 West 21st Street - Ladies' Mile Historic District
A neo-Renaissance style store and loft building designed by James E. Ware & Sons and built in 1909. Application is to install storefront infill.

HDC Testimony
HDC found this to be an incomplete application at public review on Friday. A full elevation of the building is needed to see how the ground floor relates with the floors above. We would also like to know more information about details such as the door hardware. From the drawings presented, HDC feels more framing is needed around the doors and more articulation in general in the storefront would benefit this project.

LPC Determination: Approved

Hearing Date: 5/20/2008
LPC Docket Number: 086918
Manhattan, Block: 1392, Lot: 28
61 East 77th Street - Upper East Side Historic District
A neo-Federal style school building bwith Beaux-Arts features, designed by Harde and Hasselman, and built in 1916. Application is to create a new window opening.

HDC Testimony
HDC does not support this application for a new opening and Juliet balcony. It may seem like a very small matter, but presently the building's side façade is virtually blank (there is a small window on the top floor a few stories up) and this (very visible) addition feels rather random and awkward. We recommend that the Commission reject this application.

LPC Determination: Incomplete

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