October 7, 2008

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: 10/7/2008
LPC Docket Number: 083634
Manhattan, Block: 1250, Lot: 91
601 West End Avenue - Riverside - Riverside - West End Historic District
A Renaissance Revival style apartment building built in 1915-16. Application is to establish a master plan governing the future installation of windows.

HDC Testimony
Although not mentioned in the description in today’s schedule, 601 West End Avenue is the work Emery Roth. His eclectic mix of neo-classical and Viennese Secession styles makes this apartment building a unique addition to the Riverside-West End Historic District. While there are concentrated areas of ornament, much of the façade, particularly the shaft, is plain, making the windows an important design element throughout the building. The historic photo presented clearly shows 9 over 1 windows. The master plan should work towards bringing the building back to its original design, not further away.

An existing condition plan was not included in the Public Review materials on Friday. This is a vital piece of information when considering master plans for future installation of windows.

LPC Determination: Incomplete

Hearing Date: 10/7/2008
LPC Docket Number: 085051
Manhattan, Block: 621, Lot: 16
92 Perry Street - Greenwich Village Historic District
An apartment house designed by Charles J. Rheinschmidt and built in 1914. Application is to create new storefront and door openings and install signage.

HDC Testimony
The designation report refers to the fact that the building was originally designed with stores in 1914 that were later replaced by apartments. So while storefronts possibly could be placed here, historic photos or drawings are needed to judge the appropriateness of the placement and design. In case the commission decided, to go forward without historic documentation, HDC would like to comment on the new storefront design. The proposed design includes nice details such as the wood sign band, but we would prefer a door of similar style and materials.

LPC Determination: Incomplete

Hearing Date: 10/7/2008
LPC Docket Number: 090226
Manhattan, Block: 1404, Lot: 67
110 East 70th Street - Upper East Side Historic District
A residence designed by James Santon in 1869 and altered by Robertson & Potter in 1905 in the simplified Beaux-Arts style. Application is to alter the façade, construct a rooftop and rear yard additions, and modify the windows.

HDC Testimony
This façade is an early 20th century alteration by well-known architects, an historic design whose integrity deserves to be preserved. Contributing details such as the panel between the windows of the fourth floor should be retained. A photo taken three years after the alterations clearly showing divided light, double hung windows (16-over-16 on the second floor, 12-over-1 on the upper floors) should be used as the guide for the window plans.

The sidewall is completely visible due to the empty lot next door. While we understand the desire to design its fenestration as a secondary façade, we find the window placements, their varying sizes and designs too random. Something a bit less haphazard and would be less attention grabbing and more appropriate for a wall that is not the primary facade.

The alterations in the rear would be unfortunate – removing leaded windows and redesigning a very charming space. While the addition is just one bay wide, it is proposed to stretch full height. This would interrupt the line of the top floor fenestration of these rowhouses, something the commission very rarely approves.

Finally, the rooftop addition is too visible and should be pulled back.

A number of alterations are proposed in this project for this one rowhouse. HDC urges Commissioners to look carefully at each element and consider how they relate to the Commission’s typical standards of minimal visibility of rooftop additions, the preservation of well-designed early 20th-century rowhouse façade alterations, the rejection of full height rear yard additions and the retention of top floor fenestration of rowhouses.

LPC Determination: Incomplete

Hearing Date: 10/7/2008
LPC Docket Number: 087939
Manhattan, Block: 743, Lot: 3
152 9th Avenue - Chelsea Historic District
A vernacular style rowhouse built in 1852 and altered in the 20th century. Application is to construct a rooftop addition.

HDC Testimony
HDC is opposed to this proposal for a rooftop addition as it does not meet the normal standards of minimal visibility for such an addition in an historic district. We urge the commission to reject this application

LPC Determination: Incomplete

 

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