November 27, 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 the following applications that were before the
Commission.
Hearing Date: 11/27/2007
LPC Docket Number: 083317
Manhattan, Block: 189, Lot: 34
16 North Moore Street - TriBeCa West Historic District
aka 11 Varick Street, a neo-Grec style tenement building designed
by Frederick W. Klemt and built in 1880. Application is to remove
a loading dock and construct steps.
HDC Testimony
While HDC finds the proposed storefront quite nice and does not
object to removing the loading docks, we ask that the bluestone,
an important piece of TriBeCa’s historic streetscapes, be
saved and used elsewhere on the property, for example in the new
steps or on the sidewalk.
LPC Determination: Approved w/mods
Hearing Date: 11/27/2007
LPC Docket Number: 082702
Queens, Block: 155, Lot: 60
39-02-06 45th Street - Sunnyside Gardens Historic District
A brick rowhouse with Colonial Revival style details designed
by Clarence Stein, Henry Wright and Frederick Ackeman and built
in 1927. Application is to repair the front stoop, extend the
patio at the side yard and install a wood trellis and an entry
gate.
HDC Testimony
HDC is opposed to this application as it disregards the garden
quality of Sunnyside Gardens as well as the important community-based
aspect of this historic planned neighborhood.
The overly designed trellis and entry gate proposed are not in
keeping with the understated nature of Sunnyside Gardens. While
a few trellises do exist in the private larger rear yards, only
one exists on the street. The Commission should nip such additions
in the bud before they become a trend.
The extended patio and new paths add a significant amount of
new paving to this impressive yard. It surrounds existing trees
inhibiting their future growth. In addition, the meandering, curved
layout has a very suburban feel and is not in keeping with the
traditional straight paths and grid-like layout of the community.
The proposed stair and railing feel rather deck-like and are
not appropriate for a façade that faces the street. As
seen on the Department of Buildings’ Buildings Information
System, the doors were installed last year without DOB permits,
and HDC requests that the stairs not be considered until the doors
receive necessary permits.
All of these proposals seem to be in an attempt to avoid one
of Sunnyside Gardens' endearing features, shared entrances. The
importance of community in the design of this neighborhood has
been discussed here at the Commission numerous times during the
recent designation process, and it should not be forgotten. This
proposal creates two private entrances. As stated by the applicant,
the new gate and entrance off 45th Street avoids the path used
by tenants. In addition, the extended patio connects the new door
to a driveway and parking spot (the legality of which we question)
off Barnet Avenue. A private entrance that ignores the rest of
the block and the community leads to a very singular, suburban
feel, quite the opposite of the original design intent. It chips
away at the sense of place and character of Sunnyside Gardens
and threatens to set a precedent for other corner buildings. Such
buildings should be the anchors of their courts, not the exception.
LPC Determination: Approved w/mods
Hearing Date: 11/27/2007
LPC Docket Number: 080866
Manhattan, Block: 566, Lot: 18
20 East 9th Street - Greenwich Village Historic District
An apartment house built in 1965. Application is to replace storefront.
HDC Testimony
Although this building is not typical of the Greenwich Village
Historic District, HDC does feel that if alterations are to occur,
they should recall the original design. The proposed storefront
lacks the feeling of openness seen in the original rendering.
To recreate this transparency, we recommend lowering of the black
granite bulkhead, eliminating of the transom bar, reducing the
number of columns and using narrower, brushed aluminum ones.
LPC Determination: Approved
Hearing Date: 11/27/2007
LPC Docket Number: 082342
Manhattan, Block: 572, Lot: 12
60 West 9th Street - Greenwich Village Historic District
A Greek Revival style rowhouse built in 1839 and altered circa
1937. Application is to redesign the façade and construct
a rooftop addition.
HDC Testimony
HDC questions the need to change the pre-WWII alterations of this
rowhouse that are very much in the style and spirit of other early
20th-century alterations in the Greenwich Village Historic District
regularly protected by this commission.
A new studio-like rooftop addition is neither needed nor appropriate,
when a real studio addition with a skylight already exists. Similarly,
the alterations to the front façade are unnecessary and
inappropriate. The present classical revival door surround lends
an appropriate height, something lacking in the proposed with
its rather squat proportions, and adds interesting detail to an
otherwise rather plain façade. The present cornice appears
to be historic if not possibly original and should not be replaced
with another design. We have concerns about the choice to strip
the brick. Judging by the 1937 photo presented, the brick did
not appear to be in good condition 70 years ago. After stripping,
the bricks could very well be in worse condition necessitating
their removal and replacement. We recommend that sample area be
tested first before going full steam ahead.
The present c.1937 design is perfectly appropriate to this building
and the historic district. As this application does not propose
to fully restore the building and includes new elements in its
design, HDC believes the present historic condition should be
preserved instead.
LPC Determination: Denied
Hearing Date: 11/27/2007
LPC Docket Number: 075748
Manhattan, Block: 1149, Lot: 31
101 West 77th Street - Upper West Side/Central Park West Historic
District
A Renaissance Revival style townhouse, designed by Charles P.H.
Gilbert and built in 1895-1897 Application is to construct a rooftop
addition.
HDC Testimony
101 West 77th Street is a lovely building on a very prominent
corner in the Upper West Side/Central Park West Historic District.
While the materials and design of the proposed rooftop addition
are appropriate and the restoration of the chimneys welcomed,
the addition is too visible, especially when looking up Columbus
from the south and looking west on 77th Street. We request that
the applicant reconsider the design to decrease the visibility.
LPC Determination: Incomplete
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