August 10, 2004
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: 8/10/2004
LPC Docket Number: 047599
Brooklyn, Block: 1051, Lot: 11
37 Seventh Avenue - Park Slope Historic District
A French Second Empire Style Rowhouse designed by Robert Spier
Bussing and built in 1871-2. Application is to reset and replace
bluestone sidewalk.
HDC Testimony
There’s not a lot of bluestone sidewalk left on Seventh
Avenue, so our strong recommendation would be to retain what is
left. Furthermore, the application is unclear as to where and
how the 75 square feet of bluestone is to be removed – is
it a 3 foot swath from the entire 26 foot length or a 10 foot
chunk that would be 8 feet deep? Regardless of where the extraction
will take place, and although we applaud and encourage the preservation
impulse to repair and reset the bluestone, HDC asks that the applicant
take it one step further; put new bluestone where it is needed
and preserve the existing sidewalk in situ. Otherwise, an undesirable
situation is created where we are removing existing historic fabric
in order to partially restore a historic condition elsewhere.
We respectfully submit that neither area is truly served by that
Procrustean solution.
LPC Determination: Approved
Hearing Date: 8/10/2004
LPC Docket Number: 048161
Manhattan, Block: 179, Lot: 6
9-13 Worth Street - TriBeCa West Historic District
One utilitarian style store and loft building built in 1873 and
designed by Joseph Naylor and altered in 1881 by William Graul,
and two utilitarian style store and loft buildings built in 1873
and designed by William Field & Son and altered in 1878-9.
Application is to construct a rooftop bulkhead and replace storefronts.
HDC Testimony
The Historic Districts Council applauds the use of operable transoms
– they are an increasingly- rare and wonderful thing, very
much in keeping with the historic building. The remainder of the
storefront changes are also in keeping with the industrial character
of this building, and are appropriate. However, we are concerned
about the enlarging of the existing rooftop mechanicals bulkhead.
With this proposal, what is currently an unattractive feature
of the building only gets bigger. HDC therefore respectfully asks
the applicants to re-examine that aspect of the plan, and reduce
the bulkhead, or at least leave it as is.
LPC Determination: Approved
Hearing Date: 8/10/2004
LPC Docket Number: 050284
Manhattan, Block: 515, Lot: 3 & 34
137-139 Wooster Street, aka 455 West Broadway - SoHo-Cast Iron
Historic District
An empty lot. Application is to modify the design of a building
previously approved under Certificate of Appropriateness 91-0060.
HDC Testimony
Insofar as HDC’s Public Review Committee understood this
application, we found it to be an improvement on the approved
plans in many ways – although still requiring further refinement.
We understand that the building has been approved, but since the
design has altered somewhat, HDC is pleased to have this opportunity
to help guide this new building to a greater harmony with its
historic neighbors.
In general, we found the new bulk and lowered
height of the building to be acceptable, especially considering
that the approved height was somewhat taller. However, we were
perplexed by the interior floor heights, in that there doesn’t
seem to be much interior wall between the floors & the windows
– leading to the unnerving prospect of seeing people and
interiors in a strange “display” like view. HDC has
often gone on record to protest the elimination of bulkheads in
storefronts and we find their lack in upper floors to be troublesome.
Of greater concern, though, is the preponderance
of unadorned metal on the Wooster Street façade. Simply
put, there is going to be 44 feet of gunmetal grey metal paneling
along the street – which is a serious architectural statement
and not altogether appropriate one for this historic streetscape.
While metal is of course appropriate for the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic
District, the color and flat, inarticulate quality of this façade
treatment will make it jar with its historic neighbors. Indeed,
the overall dark palette chosen will make this building stand
out all the more in contrast to its light neighbors. Finally,
with all this metal going on the façade, there’s
no reason to stint on the cornice. The impressionistic cornice
proposed is a nice gesture, but too slight and too ephemeral for
both the district and this building.
LPC Determination: No
Action
Hearing Date: 8/10/2004
LPC Docket Number: 047484
Manhattan, Block: 515, Lot: 13
475 West Broadway - SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District
A neo-Grec style building built in 1878-79, designed by Frederic
H. Gross. Application is for the recurring seasonal installment
of a tent.
HDC Testimony
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
the application now before the Commission.
This application struck HDC as potentially erecting
a permanent structure on the cheap. Nowhere in the plans was there
any discussion of which season this edifice will be installed,
and an examination of the opening doors to the restaurant make
it clear that it will be used as an addition to the establishment.
Now, if this application was for a permanent structure,
under no circumstances would it be appropriate to the SoHo-Cast
Iron Historic District. Why should the standard of appropriateness
be any lower when this structure is going to be there most probably
9 months out of 12?
LPC Determination: Denied
Hearing Date: 8/10/2004
LPC Docket Number: 050241
Manhattan, Block: 621, Lot: 33-34
367-69 Bleecker Street - Greenwich Village Historic District
A pair of French Second Emprire houses built in 1868 designed
by Henry Englebert. Application is to construct a roof deck with
fences, railings and a bulkhead.
HDC Testimony
The Historic Districts Council found the restoration of the façade
to be well-done, particularly the dormers at Charles Street. However,
the addition of visible wooden fences is entirely inappropriate
to this handsome Second Empire building. As these fences are minimally
visible from Charles Street in its proposed location, we strongly
recommend going the extra few feet back to make it entirely invisible
from the public thoroughfare. The goal of this project should
be to correct the current unfortunate situation of visible pipe
railing, not make it worse. Please treat the top of this building
with the same care as the front.
LPC Determination: No Action
Hearing Date: 7/13/2004
LPC Docket Number: 047273
Manhattan, Block: 1376, Lot: 15
680 Madison Avenue, aka 17-25 East 61st Street - Upper East Side
Historic District
A Neo-Georgian style apartment building designed by K.B. Norton
and built in 1950-51. Application is to legalize the installation
of security gates without Landmarks Preservation Commission permits
and to install awnings.
HDC Testimony
The committee was astonished by this proposal – which appears
to be the world’s largest awning, or at least the largest
one we have had the pleasure of reviewing in many a year. We were
further confused by two sets of plans, one where the awning is
also unnaturally high in order to cover the gates and another
where the awning is actually attached to the gate housing, leaving
the housing very visible from the side. Neither solution is appropriate
however, and we strongly recommend that the LPC deny this application;
that the applicants retain the three current awnings which should
be adjusted to the same level as the building’s other storefronts,
and remove the illegal security gate which unnecessarily covers
the entire storefront.
LPC Determination: No Action
Hearing Date: 8/10/2004
LPC Docket Number: 047944
Manhattan, Block: 1505, Lot: 18
1316 Madison Avenue - Carnegie Hill Historic District
A Renaissance Revival style rowhouse designed by Gilbert A. Schellenger
and built in 1889-90. Application is to legalize the installation
of a sidewalk canopy at the Madison Avenue entrance without Landmarks
Preservation Commission permits.
HDC Testimony
The Historic Districts Council understands the concern and contention
of the applicants that it was an honest accident that led to this
violation. However, upon careful inspection of the application
photos, HDC’s Public Review Committee believes that there
is now a complete lighting system within the new canopy that was
not pictured in the previous canopy, which led us to conclude
that this is an entirely new and different canopy. We are further
concerned about the method of attachment the current canopy has
to the building. Regardless of its patrimony, the Historic Districts
Council does not find this canopy to be appropriate to this handsome
Renaissance Revival the building, and asks that the LPC deny this
legalization, and that the canopy be removed.
LPC Determination: No Action
Hearing Date: 8/10/2004
LPC Docket Number: 050286
Manhattan, Block: 1377, Lot: 17
698 Madison Avenue - Upper East Side Historic District
A neo-Grec style rowhouse designed by J.H. Valentine and built
in 1878-79. Application is to legalize the construction of an
exterior fire stair at the rear without Landmarks Preservation
Commission permits.
HDC Testimony
Words alone cannot express our shock and awe at this proposal.
Rarely have we seen such an egregiously inappropriate appendage
to a historic building. This is truly terrible and an affront
to the building and the landmarks law that protects it. HDC’s
Public Review Committee was hard-put to imagine the building that
this fire stair would be an appropriate addition. It certainly
is not these neo-Grec rowhouses. We were also aghast at the removal
of the bay window and its relocation from the 2nd to the 6th floor
– if indeed this was the same window and not a facsimile.
We strongly urge the Landmarks Commission to instruct the applicant
to remove this enormous and enormously inappropriate stair case
and correct the work done to the approved permit.
LPC Determination: Denied
Hearing Date: 8/10/2004
LPC Docket Number: 050287
Manhattan, Block: 1377, Lot: 56
700 Madison Avenue - Upper East Side Historic District
A neo-Grec style rowhouse designed by J.H. Valentine and built
in 1878-79. Application is to legalize the alteration of a rear
yeard addition in noncompliance with Certificate of Appropriateness
06-6409.
HDC Testimony
Words alone cannot express our shock and awe at this proposal.
Rarely have we seen such an egregiously inappropriate appendage
to a historic building. This is truly terrible and an affront
to the building and the landmarks law that protects it. HDC’s
Public Review Committee was hard-put to imagine the building that
this fire stair would be an appropriate addition. It certainly
is not these neo-Grec rowhouses. We were also aghast at the removal
of the bay window and its relocation from the 2nd to the 6th floor
– if indeed this was the same window and not a facsimile.
We strongly urge the Landmarks Commission to instruct the applicant
to remove this enormous and enormously inappropriate stair case
and correct the work done to the approved permit.
LPC Determination: Denied
Hearing Date: 8/10/2004
LPC Docket Number: 048097
Brooklyn, Block: 248, Lot: 35
122 Montague Street - Brooklyn Heights Historic District
A Greek Revival style house built in the 1840s. Application is
to modify the shopfront and residential entrance and install and
awning.
HDC Testimony
The Historic Districts Council is very pleased to very pleased
to see the removal and replacement of this inappropriate awning
with a new, smaller, seemingly-retractable awning. Although the
new doors proposed for the storefront are not the most appropriate
for the style of the building, given the commercial nature of
Montague Street they are well within the bounds of acceptably
appropriate. Likewise, we have no objection to the removal of
the door recess.
LPC Determination: Approved
Hearing Date: 8/10/2004
LPC Docket Number: 046944
Manhattan, Block: 310, Lot: 39
141 Kane Street - Cobble Hill Historic District
A Greek Revival style rowhouse built circa 1840's. Application
is to construct a full-height rear yard addition.
HDC Testimony
This application is trying to make a building into what it is
not. This building is a small 1840’s Greek Revival style
rowhouse. What the proposal wants it to be is a late Victorian
rowhouse that has been converted into a small apartment building.
We understand that the building is under built for the zoning
and, in fact, is rather shallow, even when compared with its neighbors.
However, this does not justify the immense alteration to its character.
This building is over 150 years old and should be treated with
more respect. Buildings far smaller than this in Philadelphia’s
Efferts Alley are eminently desirable for their historic character.
Closer to home, carriage houses in Clinton Hill or small rowhouses
in Greenwich Village are in high demand. To add this enormous
addition simply because it is allowable would sacrifice the greater
goal of preserving this building’s character & integrity.
LPC Determination: No Action
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