More specifically, HDC believes that the proposed
renovation introduces an unfortunate amount of intrusive modern
material into Astor Court. The proposed roof treatment is of particular
concern. The roof of the Lion House is a defining element of this
neo-Classical building, and the proposed design calls for an inordinate
amount of reflective material on this feature. Much of the reflective
material will be highly visible and will therefore visually interrupt
the original unity of the roofline. If the reflective material
is to be introduced into the roof, then it must be done in way
that it is not visible from any point in Astor Court or the entire
zoo. Similarly, HDC questions the introduction of the ornamental
iron grills and the silkscreen aluminum panels, as they are a
distraction to the historic architecture. We ask the Commission
to work with the architect and the Wildlife Conservation Society
to come up with a more appropriate way to treat these windows.
We propose sandblasted glass as a possible alternative, as it
would be more sensitive to the style and the date of the building.
Lastly, the Historic Districts Council objects to relocating to
the service area the stone lions that currently flank the main
entrance to the Lion House. These stone lions are an identifying
element of the landmark, marking its entrance and lending a sense
of grandeur to the building. Although the building will no longer
house lions, HDC doubts that the presence of sculptural lions
at the entryway will confuse zoo-goers. Rather, these lions will
continue to delight children and their parents as they head into
the Lion House to see the new lemur exhibit.
LPC Determination: Approved
Hearing Date: 9/30/2003 -
LPC Docket Number: 040315
Brooklyn, Block: 254 Lot: 33
14 Hunts Lane in the Brooklyn Heights Historic District
A carriage house built in 1865 and altered in 1934. Application
is to construct a stair bulkhead and a railing on the roof.
HDC Testimony
The Historic Districts Council finds this addition completely
inappropriate and entirely too visible. Hunts Lane is one of smallest-scaled
streets within the Brooklyn Heights Historic District. Additions
like the one proposed can easily overwhelm the small-scale buildings
on the street and permanently alter the delicate balance of Hunts
Lane. Moreover, carriage houses like 14 Hunts Lane contribute
immeasurably to the district, and reconfiguring this building
into a larger entity is unacceptable and inconsistent with the
importance of the Brooklyn Heights Historic District.
LPC Determination: Approved
Hearing Date: 9/30/2003
LPC Docket Number: 035023
Brooklyn, Block: 249 Lot: 34
146 Montague Street in the Brooklyn Heights Historic District
A building built in the 19th century and later altered. Application
is to install an awning and a canvas banner and to legalize the
installation of an exterior security gate, tracks and housing
and a new bulkhead at the storefront without Landmarks Preservation
Commission permits.
HDC Testimony
As we have stated many times before, the Historic Districts Council
vehemently objects to work done without permits from the Landmarks
Preservation Commission. This storefront is a prime example of
a project that would have greatly benefited from the guidance
of the Commission and its staff. Instead, the applicant chose
to flout the Landmarks Law and create this inappropriate storefront.
We regret that the applicant is before us today trying to skirt
the law and receive approval for work that would have never been
approved had they gone to the Commission before completing the
storefront.
That said, HDC urges the applicant to remove the exterior security
gate, tracks and housing and install in its place an interior
mesh gate. Exterior, solid roll down gates not only mar the exterior
materials of the storefront, they moreover create an imposing
and unfriendly atmosphere along the streetscape. HDC also objects
to the awning and canvas banner. The awning is too high and too
large. An appropriate-sized retractable awning should be installed
instead within the storefront opening.
LPC Determination: Laid over
Hearing Date: 9/30/2003
LPC Docket Number: 040945
Brooklyn, Block: 2090 Lot: 36
204 Adelphi Street in the Fort Greene Historic District
An Italianate style rowhouse constructed in 1866. Application
is to legalize the construction of a one-story rear yard addition
and to construct an additional story on the extension.
HDC Testimony
The Historic Districts Council is appalled that the applicant
is applying to build a one-story addition on top of an illegal
addition. We question whether the Commission would approve a two-story
rear yard addition like the one proposed if the illegal addition
had never been built. Nonetheless, the applicant should not be
rewarded for flouting the Landmarks Law with permission to build
an even larger addition.
We regret that the applicant did not provide a
site plan of the entire block, illustrating the garden core. Without
such a plan, it is impossible to tell how many intrusions occur
in the block’s rear yard doughnut. In addition, we note
the lack of a depiction of the rear yard from Willoughby Avenue
during the winter when no foliage is on the trees. The existing
rear yard addition is extremely visible from Willoughby Avenue,
and the appearance and integrity of the rear yard will only be
worsened by an additional story.
The designation report for 204 Aldelphi Street states, “No.
204 retains most of its original details including shingle siding,
a porch with square, panel posts and a balustrade, a round-arched
entranceway, floor-length parlor windows with full enframements,
rectangular second story windows with paneled enframements and
projection slab lintels resting on brackets and a round-arched
attic window.” Unfortunately, since designation, the rear
yard of the building has not been cared for with the same respect
as the front and has been marred with the addition. We urge the
Landmarks Preservation Commission to deny the application for
the legalization of the rear yard addition and the construction
of an additional one story.
LPC Determination: Approved
Hearing Date: 9/30/2003
LPC Docket Number: 032718
Brooklyn, Block: 1965 Lot: 18
33 Cambridge Place in the Clinton Hill Historic District
A neo-Grec style rowhouse built in 1878 and designed by Benjamin
Linikin. Application is to legalize the painting of the front
façade without Landmarks Preservation Commission permits.
HDC Testimony
If the Landmarks Preservation Commission were to approve the painting
of this brownstone building, it would be wildly inconsistent with
other Commission decisions. In fact, had the applicant approached
the Commission before painting their brownstone, the Commission
would have never approved such an application.
As the Commission knows, painting stone, especially brownstone,
promotes spalling and the general deterioration of the building
material. Paint traps moisture into the stone, which can be disastrous
for brownstone after several freeze-thaw cycles. HDC particularly
regrets the painting of 33 Cambridge Place because at the time
of designation it was remarkably intact. Clinton Hill’s
designation report from 1981 states, “No. 33 remains in
superb condition with all of its original iron railings, newel
posts, and window guards. It also retains its pedimented entrance
enframement with stylized new-Grec brackets, full window enframements
with raised lintels and ornamental friezes, and stylized basement
belt course.” We trust that the Commission will deny the
applicant’s request for legalization and will work with
the applicant to restore the building back to the “superb
condition” it was in twenty years ago.
LPC Determination: Denied
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