August 4, 2009
Hearing Date: 8/4/2009
Agency Rule Making
City Wide
A proposed amendment to section 13.04 of the rules of the Commission Title 63 of the Rules of the City of New York, relating to the payment and application fees for certain work, pursuant to the City Administrative Procedures Act.
HDC Testimony
HDC is opposed to these fees on principal. They give opponents of landmarking a chance to point out that work on a designated building indeed is more expensive then on nondesignated ones, even if it only slightly. At this time of economic trouble, we ask why make it more expensive to care for an historic structure?
Having said that, we realize that the fees have been crucial in maintaining LPC’s budget. We would ask that some relief structure be put into place for those who need it and an exemption for charities be considered. We would also recommend that those projects that take up the most staff time such as legalizations and 74-711’s should also be charge fees and at a higher rate. In these two cases, applicants are asking for exceptions and it is not unreasonable to expect such things might cost more.
LPC Determination: Incomplete
Hearing Date: 8/4/2009
LPC Docket Number: 098978
Brooklyn, Block: 2558, Lot: 2
146 Franklin St – Greenpoint Historic District
An Italianate style rowhouse built in 1863-64. Application is to install storefronts.
HDC Testimony
This application is a huge improvement and HDC applauds the applicant for taking on such a job. The faux door an interesting solution to the problem posed by the interior lay out, but rather than calling too much attention to it, a simpler, flat door with a surround could be more appropriate. In addition, we would ask that the storefront be made of wood and not aluminum. This would not only be more historically appropriate, but would also help better integrate the door with the overall storefront.
LPC Determination: Approved w/mods
Hearing Date: 8/4/2009
LPC Docket Number: 100542
Brooklyn, Block: 243, Lot: 16
143 Montague St – Brooklyn Heights Historic District
An Anglo-Italianate style house built between 1850-1860, and altered at the basement and parlor floors for commercial use in the early 20th century. Application is to install storefront infill.
HDC Testimony
HDC feels that the existing storefront infill at 143 Montague Street is nice enough – transparent without being blank and generic. If the applicant really feels the need to alter it, we would recommend work that would help the ground floor relate more to the bays above, using a tripartite design with transoms, for example.
LPC Determination: Approved
Hearing Date: 8/4/2009
LPC Docket Number: 100629
Brooklyn, Block: 275, Lot: 12
145 Atlantic Avenue – Brooklyn Heights Historic District
A rowhouse with a commercial base. Application is to alter the ground floor faзade and replace a shopfront and entrance.зade, but it is an interesting one full of detail and presently fully visible. HDC recommends that the additions be pulled back so that at the very least they are not in the same plane as the wall.
HDC Testimony
HDC finds the proportions and basic design of this proposal to be in keeping with Brooklyn Heights. We would though prefer to see materials that also reflect the city’s first historic district, including wood for the storefront and a solid bulkhead rather than frosted glass.
LPC Determination: Approved
Hearing Date: 8/4/2009
LPC Docket Number: 100359
Brooklyn, Block: 2300, Lot: 243
151-153 Montague St – Brooklyn Heights Historic District
A Beaux Arts style commercial building built in the early 20th century. Application is to replace shopfront infill.
HDC Testimony
While the proposed is an improvement, HDC finds that more information on this very distinguished building and its history is needed before making any recommendations. Is the storefront at 151 that is being matched LPC approved or grandfathered? We would be interested to know if ther are any drawings filed at DoB for the original ground floor design. HDC believes that it is important to return storefronts to historically appropriate designs, not just to nicer ones.
LPC Determination: Approved
Hearing Date: 8/4/2009
LPC Docket Number: 095076
Manhattan, Block: 219, Lot: 7504
169 Hudson St – TriBeCa North Historic District
A Renaissance Revival style warehouse designed by James E. Ware and built in 1893-4. Application is to construct a rooftop addition.
HDC Testimony
Although there is a building planned that will block the view of these additions, HDC feels it is unadvisable to depend on something that does not yet exist to deal with one of the Commission’s biggest issues, visibility. This is not a primary facade, but it is an interesting one, full of detail and presently fully visible. HDC recommends that the additions be pulled back so that at the very least they are not in the same plane as the wall.
LPC Determination: Incomplete
Hearing Date: 8/4/2009
LPC Docket Number: 100351
Manhattan, Block: 497, Lot: 18
560 Broadway, aka 72-78 Prince St – SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District
A store building designed by Thomas Stent and built in 1883-84. Application is to modify storefront infill and install signage.
HDC Testimony
In general the modification to storefront infill are nice, but HDC recommends keeping the mullion in the left bay to maintain its relationship with the other openings. The signage could be found appropriate except for, again, the left opening which will turn into a large, back lit sign. Show windows are for displaying merchandise, not for use as a light box.
LPC Determination: Approved w/mods
Hearing Date: 8/4/2009
LPC Docket Number: 095869
Manhattan, Block: 588, Lot: 71
33-37 Grove St – Greenwich Village Historic District
Three transitional Queen Anne/Romanesque Revival style apartment houses, designed by F. T. Camp and built in 1881. Application is to legalize modifications to the areaways without LPC permits.
HDC Testimony
HDC’s only concern is that details are missing from the existing areaway fence that are pictured in the “Landmarks Archive” photos. If these missing pieces are part of the illegal work, we ask that they be restored.
LPC Determination: Approved w/mods
Hearing Date: 8/4/2009
LPC Docket Number: 086877
Manhattan, Block: 497, Lot: 33
83 Spring Street – SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District
A 19th century building redesigned by Richard Berger as a store and loft building in 1886. Application is to install new storefront infill.
HDC Testimony
While this application points 83 Spring Street in the right direction, HDC feels there needs to be a more careful study of the details, many of which are not fully explained or are muddled in discrepenancies in the various boards. One example is board A3 refers to a concrete sidewalk when it is in fact granite. We find the window framing and bulkhead in particular need more detailing. The storefront should be inset more in order to highlight the deep, ornamented reveal of the cast-iron piers. Color samples, and materials samples should also be submitted before the appropriateness of this application can be determined. 83 Spring Street is a handsome building that recalls SoHo’s glory days of the late 19th century, and it deserves the best planned and detailed project possible.
LPC Determination: Incomplete