April 24, 2007
Statement of the Historic Districts Council
before the Landmarks Preservation Commission
Certificate of Appropriateness Hearing
The Historic Districts Council is the advocate
for New York City’s designated historic districts and neighborhoods
meriting preservation. Its Public Review Committee monitors proposed
changes within historic districts and changes to individual landmarks
and has reviewed these applications that were before the Commission.
Hearing Date: 4/24/2007
LPC Docket Number: 075666
Manhattan, Block: 107, Lot: 60
Peck Slip - South Street Seaport Historic District
A belgian block paved street bed, originally a wharf, filled in
in 1810. Application is to redesign the street and construct a
park.
HDC Testimony
HDC is happy to see that this proposal for a park is not a Disneyesque,
faux Victorian garden that would be out of character and instead
takes into consideration the district’s history. However
interesting and handsome the design is though, it is still not
appropriate. In a neighborhood of handsome, simple, straightforward,
buildings, the proposed is too fussy and over designed. On a whole
it feels rather unnecessary. It leads one to ask why not respect
the slip for what it has been for nearly two centuries, what the
surrounding buildings have always know it as, a paved, open space?
Why not keep the slip an open space of belgian block with bollards
to stop traffic like the design found at Fulton Street? In changing
its primary function from work to leisure, the space should be
thought of as a plaza, not as a traditional, green park. It would
be nice to then see the effort and money put into this project
redirected to one or more of the many parks throughout the city
in desperate need of upkeep and renovations.
LPC Determination: Approved w/mods
Hearing Date: 4/24/2007
LPC Docket Number: 075068
Manhattan, Block: 222, Lot: 1
441-453 Greenwich Street - TriBeCa North Historic District
Aka 34-48 Vestry Street and 9-17 Desbrosses Street, a Romanesque
Revival style warehouse designed by Charles C. Haight and built
in 1883-1884. Application is to construct additions, remove shutters,
modify window openings and replace windows and storefronts.
HDC Testimony
In general HDC supports this application. We do however sense
a feeling of regularizing historic accretion such as the variety
of window types. Conditions appear to be, from the 74 boards presented,
good, and there does not seem to be any reason for some of the
changes other than uniformity. We ask the commission to consider
whether the present conditions actually warrant the changes and
if these changes should be rewarded with a 74-711?
LPC Determination: Incomplete
Hearing Date: 4/24/2007
LPC Docket Number: 075123
Manhattan, Block: 25, Lot: 19
25 Broad Street - Individual Landmark Historic District
An Italian Renaissance style skyscraper designed by Clinton &
Russell and built in 1900-1902. Application is to demolish a rear
portion of the building, construct a rear addition, alter window
openings, and install a new entrance.
HDC Testimony
While the proposed restoration work for this building is nice,
HDC fears it may come at too high a price. We have great reservations
on the removal of twenty original floors of an individual landmark,
even those that will no be missed on the streetscape. It appears
to us as an unnecessary and potentially dangerous surgery.
LPC Determination: Approved
Hearing Date: 4/24/2007
LPC Docket Number: 071893
Manhattan, Block: 473, Lot: 16
433 Broome Street - SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District
A building originally built in 1827, and converted to a French
Renaissance style store and loft building in the 1870s. Application
is to legalize the installation of a concrete sidewalk in non-compliance
with Certificate of No Effect 03-1916 and to install new storefront
infill.
HDC Testimony
HDC approves of the proposed new storefront. With its fine use
of wood and cast iron, the proposal takes the building towards
a more historic look. However, we are very much against the removal
of blue stone. This sidewalk material is a distinctive element
of the SoHo-Cast Iron historic district. The Commission regularly
turns down applications to replace blue stone with cement and
we urge you to direct the restoration of this sidewalk.
LPC Determination: Mixed - see notes
Hearing Date: 4/24/2007
LPC Docket Number: 072920
Manhattan, Block: 512, Lot: 7502
599 Broadway - SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District
A store and loft building designed by J. Odell Whitenach and built
in 1917. Application is to re-install sculpture, alter north façade,
and install a plaque and illuminated advertising signage and light
fixtures.
HDC Testimony
HDC has been concerned about the deposition of "The Wall"
for several years. Of particular interest to us is the broader
issue of the importance of this artwork to the SoHo-Cast Iron
Historic District. The piece was constructed shortly after designation
of the district, as the area had begun to gain recognition as
the center of the New York Art scene, with scores of important
galleries and artists living and working in SoHo loft spaces.
"The Wall" was a neighborhood icon for over a quarter
of a century, and is highly regarded not only by art experts,
but by New Yorkers and tourists alike, who came to associate it
with the recent history of this preserved 19th-century neighborhood.
Its presence reminded New Yorkers of the flourishing art community
that revived and in a sense created SoHo as an urban precinct
for art unlike any other. While it is true that there have been
other artworks on building walls in SoHo that were Legally removed,
none was as significant, or prominent, as "The Wall."
Furthermore, just because it was installed after designation does
not make the artwork any less significant. As HDC has tesitified
numerous times in the past, new structures in designated historic
districts that are approved by the Commission become part of their
district, enjoying the same protection - and obligations - that
the rest of the district enjoys.
Therefore, HDC opposes the proposed changes to "The Wall"
at 599 Broadway. The only reason to reinstall the piece in a different
location is to create room for advertising, the addition of which
ruins the quiet dignity of the artwork. "The Wall",
as we understand it, is site-specific as it reflects the outline
of an adjacent 8-story building that was torn down in the 1930s
when Houston Street was widened. The channel irons were originally
put in place to strengthen the newly exposed wall of 599 Broadway.
Moving the work changes this historic reflection. The LPC in the
past has said that "The Wall" is known and experience
as the 'gateway' to SoHo." As an abstract work, it came to
symbolize the transformation of the neighborhood into a center
for contemporary and avant-garde art. The moving of the artwork
to make room for advertising symbolizes a much sadder change.
LPC Determination: Approved
Hearing Date: 4/24/2007
LPC Docket Number: 070885
Manhattan, Block: 824, Lot: 49
18 West 23rd Street - Ladies' Mile Historic District
A commercial building built in 1857 and latered in the early 20th
Century Commercial style in 1924. Application is to install a
new storefront, construct a rooftop addition and new stair bulkhead,
and alter the rear façade.
HDC Testimony
At first glance HDC was disturbed by the proportions of the proposed
storefront - the transoms felt smooshed, while the doors and windows
looked too tall. We believe that this is caused by the mistaken
use of the present sign band. We feel that this is not truly a
sign band but plywood covering the original sign band. The actual
sign band should be smaller with the cast iron columns continuing
up through it to the brackets. A smaller sign band would allow
for a larger transom that would then even out the proportions
of the storefront windows and doors.
HDC has concerns that the actual roof top addition will not be
as invisible as the mock up. It is of course difficult to see
a plywood outline against an open sky. We can only trust the applicant
on this part of the proposal.
On the rear façade, there should be more regularity to
the size and style of the windows isntalled. Also we are concerned
as to how the concrete balconies can be supported from this façade
and about the fate of the historic cornice.
HDC asks that the Commission takes these elements - the proportions
of the storefront, the true visibility of the roof top addition
and the details of the rear façade - into consideration
when deciding on this application.
LPC Determination: Approved w/mods
Hearing Date: 4/24/2007
LPC Docket Number: 072831
Manhattan, Block: 846, Lot: 8
7 East 17th Street - Ladies' Mile Historic District
aka 10 East 18th Street, a neo-Renaissance style building designed
by Moore and Laudsiedel and built in 1900-1902. Application is
to legalize the replacement of a storefront without LPC permits.
HDC Testimony
It was rather unclear what is being proposed for legalization
here. While we appreciate the applicants' effort to copy details
of existing cast iron, they feel like rather waterdowned versions.
For example what is translated as a circle in the new materials
is really a handsome leaf motif, and the window's muntins overlap
but do not intersect as they do in the original. We also question
the use of steel and fiberglass in copying such details (samples
of which were not provided at public review.) Judging by the photos
in this presentation there is enough evidence to design a fairly
accurate restoration, and we feel every effort should be made
to do so.
LPC Determination: Approved w/mods
Hearing Date: 4/24/2007
LPC Docket Number: 075114
Manhattan, Block: 11128, Lot: 58
50 West 76th Street - Upper West Side/Central Park West Historic
District
A Renaissance Revival style rowhouse built in 1887-1889. Application
is to alter the stoop and areaway, and construct a rear yard addition.
HDC Testimony
HDC supports the addition of masonry walls in place of metal railing
along the stairs of the stoops with one detail changed. To truly
be a dog-leg stoop the back wall should continue and wrap around
so that the stair ends no to the side, but facing the street like
that pictured at 40 West 76th Street. We are opposed to the gate
as it is not historic and not appropriate for this block.
While the rear yard addition is not of significant size, its
style is inappropriate. The windows are much larger than those
on the upper floors giving the addition the appearance of a light
box. Similarly the gigantic steel lintels and exposed structural
column are not sympathetic to the original fabric of this rowhouse.
HDC believes that a less aggressive design would make this rear
yard addition acceptable.
LPC Determination: Approved
Hearing Date: 4/24/2007
LPC Docket Number: 075743
Manhattan, Block: 1119, Lot: 53
36 West 86th Street - Upper West Side/Central Park West Historic
District
A neo-Renaissance style rowhouse designed by Welch, Smith and
Provot, and built in 1907-1908. Application is to construct rooftop
addition and rear yard additions.
HDC Testimony
While this application works nicely, compliments the previous
addition and renovations, HDC does not feel the first project
was appropriate to this historic, residential block and hence
does not approve of this application. We have no objections to
the moderate size of the additions, but they feel like a rather
expensive, needless façade renovation. By making the two
buildings look like one large building, their original, separate
identities will be lost. This application is also an example of
a continuing problem, institutions expanding into smaller buildings
in residential communities with little respect for the feel and
character of these neighborhoods.
LPC Determination: Approved
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