November 24, 2009
LPC Docket Number: 101256
Staten Island, Block: 955, Lot: 1
460 Brielle Avenue – NYC Farm Colony-Seaview Hospital Historic District Historic District
A tuberculosis hospital complex constructed between 1908-1937. Application is to construct a new building and parking lot.
HDC Testimony
While construction of a new building that continues the spirit and use of the historic Farm Colony and Seaview Hospital is a noble wish, there needs to be more consideration paid to the architectural expression of that mission found in the historic buildings in the district. The massing, design and materials of this new project all have to be rethought to create a more contextual building.
A large building might be what is needed here, but the massing gives it a very bulky appearance. HDC is also interested in how this proposed structure’s height compares to other buildings in the district. Unlike so many new projects where the ratio of glass to masonry tips too far in the favor of glass, there is too much solid here increasing the sense of bulk in the structure. Unfortunately, much of the solid material proposed is EIFS, something the Commission has prohibited in other projects for new buildings elsewhere, most recently last week in Douglaston. Finally we find the assymetry of the building’s overall layout, window types and material placement to be unsympathetic with the carefully arranged Georgian and other revival styles of much of the historic complex.
There were no boards explaining the porposed parking lot and acompanying fence, but we hope the plan takes into account the importance of plantings and open space to this district. As HDC has noted in past proposals for parking lots here at Seaview, open, green areas were considered necessary for the treatment of tuberculosis patients. In addition, the hospital’s designer Raymond F. Almirall described the abundant gardens as “beneficial to the morale of the patients.” And more green would most likely be beneficial to today’s residents as well.
LPC Determination: Incomplete
LPC Docket Number: 103225
Brooklyn, Block: 1918, Lot: 65
274 Hall Street – Clinton Hill Historic District
A French Second Empire style carriage house and coachman’s residence, designed by Charles Werner and built in 1881. Application is to install storefront infill.
HDC Testimony
Although some wonderful restoration work is going on elsewhere at 274 Hall Street, HDC does not find this application for new storefront infill to be sympathetic to this very charming building. The materials provided at Public Review on Friday contained no details, but that might have been because there are no details. What appears to be proposed is just a rather stock aluminum storefront. Although this floor was not historically a storefront, it makes up over half of the landmarked structure. HDC feels more consideration should be given to the infill detailing in order to create a more whole building.
LPC Determination: Incomplete
LPC Docket Number: 102796
Manhattan, Block: 181, Lot: 19
175 Franklin – TriBeCa West Historic District
A Romanesque Revival style store and loft building, designed by Martin V. B. Ferdon, and built in 1889-90. Application is to alter the entrance and remove loading platform.
HDC Testimony
HDC approves of most of the work proposed here for 175 Franklin Street. We only ask that consideration be made to retain and restore the historic vault lights rather than installing diamond plate in order to bring the building even closer to its 1890 appearance.
LPC Determination: Approved
LPC Docket Number: 094261
Manhattan, Block: 819, Lot: 56
23 West 17th Street – Ladies’ Mile Historic District
A Beaux-Arts style store and loft building designed by Buchman and Fox and built in 1902-04. Application is to install a storefront.
HDC Testimony
In general the proposed storefront is nice, but HDC has a few questions. We are happy to see a paint swatch now as it is considerably darker and less jarring than the color on the elevations. We were curious why the store window mullions are proposed to be made of wood and not metal. Finally the door handles seem rather plain, and we wonder whether that is their actual design or if the details have just not been presented.
LPC Determination: Approved
LPC Docket Number: 073744
Manhattan, Block: 1122, Lot: 58
56 West 70th Street – Upper West Side/Central Park West Historic District
A Renaissance Revival style rowhouse designed by Thom & Wilson and built in 1891-92. Application is to alter the façade and areaway, and replace windows.
HDC Testimony
While this application is starting to move the first floor of this rowhouse towards a more apporpriate appearance, there are some issues. HDC does not approve of a single pane window on the front façade of a nineteenth-century rowhouse. We would encourage the reinstallation of a stoop here, but if the basement entry is to be altered, there are other examples of similar entries in this row that can be used as models. For example, unlike the thin entry proposed, next door at 58, the door is wider, filling in its bay better and has more detailing including a cornice treatment over the doorway. It is important that, while the time, effort and money is put into altering the façade, the project be a complete design plan to address this rowhouse’s base.
LPC Determination: Approved w/mods
LPC Docket Number: 102534
Manhattan, Block: 1212, Lot: 64
449-455 Amsterdam Avenue – Upper West Side/Central Park West Historic District
A Romanesque Revival style building designed by Gilbert A. Schellenger and built in 1892-93. Application is to install a new storefront infill and an awning, replace a window, and legalize alterations to a window.
HDC Testimony
449-455 Amsterdam Avenue is a good example of a building in need of a master plan for storefronts. If individual tenants continue on their opposite paths, a unified base will never be reached. Considering this building was originally built with storefronts, a cohesive ground floor should be the goal of any work here.
The proposed storefront is inappropriate for a number of reasons. The infill is set on the wrong plane, pushed out too far giving the storefront a very flat look with none of the depth of the existing or neighboring storefronts. With the exception of a rather nice bulkhead, the storefront is entirely glass. While this might be deemed a proper treatment of a space that was once a loading bay say in the Gansevoort Market Historic District, it is not fitting for what has always been a storefront on the Upper West Side.
LPC Determination: Approved with modifications
LPC Docket Number: 101595
Manhattan, Block: 717, Lot: 62
436 West 20th Street – Chelsea Historic District
A Greek revival style townhouse built in 1835. Application is to construct a rooftop addition and roof deck; remove a decorative fire escape, build a parapet wall, and gild ornament.
HDC Testimony
HDC does not object to most of the work being proposed here for 436 West 20th Street. We do not feel though that gilding ornament is appropriate. In fact, we can think of no other 19th-century rowhouse in New York City that has gold detailing on the exterior. While it is nice to highlight original detailing, of which this townhouse has a lot, the added gold is over the top. Now that we hear it is detailing that is not original and is a legalization of something built in non-compliance with an old CofA, gilding makes even less sense.
LPC Determination: Approved with modifications