Item 1
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
BOROUGH OF QUEENS
118033- Block 8027, lot 63-
31-15 Shore Road – Douglaston Historic District
A vacant lot. Application is to construct a new house.
While the proposed is rather handsome, the Queen Anne-Shingle-style is not one found in the Douglaston Historic District. There is an awful lot of consideration for the building’s relationship to the water, but there needs to be more for its relationship to the other houses of the historic district. As the the photos of neighboring buildings show, Douglaston is made up of early-20th century revival styles such as Colonial, Mediterranean and Tudor revivals, often rather compact and frequently symmetrical in their design. The rambling, turreted, Victorian-inspired design of the proposed new house, described in the presentation as “more Hamptons style”, might be a better fit in the slightly older, neighboring district of Douglaston Hill or further east on Long Island. Douglaston’s historic houses present many interesting examples that could serve as guides for their new neighbor. Seeing as this corner is an important one in the district, just across the street from the Douglaston Dock, finding the right style and fit is key.
LPC determination: No action
Item 3
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
BOROUGH OF BROOKLYN
115577- Block 2090, lot 20-
223-231 Carlton Avenue – Fort Greene Historic District
A vacant lot. Application is to construct a row of five houses.
HDC finds the new construction to be a nice addition to this stretch of Carlton Avenue While the rowhouses are taller than the neighboring row, they do correspond to others on the block. Their depth is an issue though. The new buildings would extend further into the garden core than the majority of the other houses, and then even further out with metal decks. Instead the rear wall should be pulled back to align with the neighbors. In general, the materials chosen are appropriate. It would be preferable though for the exposed side wall to be in brick rather than stucco, and the stucco reserved for use on the rear façade rather than EIFS, a material that has been repeatedly turned down by the Commission as having no place in an historic district. Thanks to their generally thoughtful design elements, proportions and materials, the proposed row of five houses are on their way to being sympathetic neighbors on this historic block. With a few little adjustments, they will be just right.
LPC determination: No action
Item 29
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN
118812- Block 718, lot 99/98/97-
417-421 West 20th Street – Chelsea Historic District
A freestanding faculty house built in 1892 with on an ensemble of English Collegiate Gothic style buildings built largely between 1883-1902, designed primarily by Charles Coolidge Haight. Application is to install fences in the close.
Although it is nice that the proposal seeks to follow existing ironwork and will be of a reasonable height, HDC is uncomfortable with the thought of adding fences in this historically open space. It feels akin to adding fences to Sunnyside Gardens or McDougal-Sullivan Gardens. The problem is further compounded by divvying up the space within the fence into three more compartments. The need for the fences has not yet even been demonstrated, and HDC feels that for now the space should be left free of any further fencing. Plantings could be used to create a delineation of the space instead, as is often suggested to applicants in Jackson Heights and other locations known for their gardens and open spaces.
LPC determination: No action
Item 30
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN
117045- Block 821, lot 42-
150 Fifth Avenue – Ladies’ Mile Historic District
A Romanesque Revival style store and loft building, built in 1888-90, and designed by Edward H. Kendall. Application is to install new storefront infill.
While storefronts often come and go and their design is seen as temporary, they are key features of the Ladies’ Mile Historic District, an area used today for its original purpose, shopping. The storefronts of a store and loft building, such as 150 Fifth Avenue, are the most readily and most closely experienced features by those stopping in or simply passing by. Ideally a master plan would be in place for the storefronts here on Edward H. Kendall’s Methodist Book Concern. If a master plan cannot be created by this application, an historically accurate storefront that can be used as an example for future applications is the next best thing.
HDC is very glad to see the long signband is being removed and important features of the historic design exposed once again. We do have some concern about the detailing and configuration of the proposed infill though. The oldest storefronts existing on the southern most bays along the Fifth Avenue façade and historic photographs should be used as guides. For example, the proportions of the proposed, especially the double transom, feel off. As clearly seen in the 1895 photograph from King’s Photographic Views of New York, a double transom was found only above the door and not above the flanking show windows. Also, from the proposal, it appears the storefront will be flush with the building exterior. Instead it should be set back, as seen nicely in a 1911 photo, to expose the returns of the stone and create more depth in the base. Of additional concern is the unfinished concrete floor slab that presently projects from the building. Rather than allowing it to remain, while work goes on in this bay, it should be cleaned up.
HDC finds that this is an important chance to restore part of the base of 150 Fifth Avenue to the fine condition of its upper floors, and we encourage the applicant to take the extra steps in order to do just that.
LPC determination: Approved with modifications
Item 33
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN
118513- Block 1212, lot 125-
121 West 81st Street – Upper West Side/Central Park West Historic District
A Northern Renaissance Revival style rowhouse designed by Henry L. Harris and built in 1884-85. Application is to construct a rear yard addition.
The ready visibility of this rear façade requires that more consideration be put into the contextual nature of the proposed rear yard addition’s design. HDC finds the design to be too industrial looking for this residential neighborhood. The pergola, while not attached to the historic façade, does create visual clutter and the suggestion of yet another floor on the addition. We are also uncomfortable with the incremental increase that will make the full-width addition more intrusive and only encourage neighbors to do the same.
LPC determination: Approved with modifications
Item 8
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
BOROUGH OF BROOKLYN
112119- Block 215, lot 21-
27 Cranberry Street – Brooklyn Heights Historic District
A vacant lot. Application is to construct a new building.
While HDC is impressed to see an applicant dare to use real brownstone on a new building, 27 Cranberry Street is not in the brownstone area of Brooklyn Heights. Similarly, the sculptural façade, the large proportions of the design details and fenestration, and the bulk of the new building are all at odds with the historic neighbors. Instead of rows of brownstones for the more well-to-do, this block of Cranberry Street developed as a more working-class area with wood and brick houses. They may be simpler or more modest, but they are no less handsome or historic than their tonier counterparts. Cues for the design of new building should be picked up from this block, not other blocks to which the proposed seems to aspire.
LPC determination: No action
PM Item 1
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN
109724- Block 1142, lot 61-
147 West 70th Street – Upper West Side/Central Park West Historic District
A neo-Gothic style church complex built in 1917 and designed by Gustave Steinback. Application is to install two canopies.
HDC finds that the proposed awning does not take the building’s or most specifically the entrance’s design into account. An awning which follows the line of the door surround, rather than breaking it, would be a more compatible fit. Something more than a run-of-the-mill awning is required for this building that is anything but run-of-the-mill.
LPC determination: Approved