Item 1
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
BOROUGH OF QUEENS
079284- Block 8162, lot 120-
32-11 Douglas Road – Douglaston Historic District
A vacant lot. Application is to construct a new house.
The need to build the septic system above ground, coupled with the fact that the site lies just outside of Douglas Manor whose deed restrictions the applicant has chosen not to follow, has created a building that looks very different from others in the district. It is much taller than its neighbor and features a significant wall around the property. Also, the basement garage is a much more prominent feature than is typically found in Douglaston.
While the neo-Georgian or –Colonial style chosen for the proposed new house is appropriate to the Douglaston Historic District, the details and fenestration are not up to par. There does not need to be a mini front gable within the larger one, and the prominent bargeboards of both call out for some detailing. The large opening with a Juliet balcony throws off the second floor fenestration, while the blank space between the windows beneath it and the overly ornate entrance disrupts the fenestration of the first floor. The large area of blank wall on the side façade is not appropriate for the district, while the rear façade awkwardly features sliding windows next to double hung windows. Overall, a more cohesive, balanced design plan is needed.
LPC determination: No action
Item 2
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
BOROUGH OF QUEENS
118151- Block 8064, lot 76-
29 Center Drive aka 236-02-236-12 Forest Rd – Douglaston Historic District
A Greek Revival/Italianate style freestading house, with attached garage, built circa 1848-1850. Application is to enlarge the garage, construct a driveway, change masonry openings, extend a porch, replace railings, and alter a cupola.
HDC compliments the applicant on the fine restoration and improvements planned here at 29 Center Drive, one of the oldest and most important houses in the district. Although it is carefully place, we find that the additional driveway is an intrusion that takes away from the lovely site. Instead, we would recommend a porous paving that would allow for grass growth or a ribbon driveway instead.
LPC determination: Approved with modifications
Item 12
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN
117774- Block 122, lot 1-
City Hall – Individual Landmark
A Federal style government building designed by Mangin and McComb and built between 1802 and 1811. Application is to install mechanical equipment.
While HDC applauds the city for leading the way in the use of alternative energy and conservation, we are disappointed in the results here at City Hall. Mangin and McComb’s masterpiece deserves more than something that resembles a dumpster. This is a missed opportunity to use the city’s seat of power to show that alternative energy can compliment its surroundings.
LPC determination: Approved
Item 25
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN
120349- Block 718, lot 1-
400 West 21st Street – Chelsea Historic District
An ensemble of English Collegiate Gothic style buildings built between 1883-1902, designed primarily by Charles Coolidge Haight. Application is to construct a new building, and to alter window openings on the West Building.
HDC would like to thank the Commission for bringing this application forward as a Public Hearing item and not merely a Public Meeting item as alterations to Certificates of Appropriateness frequently are treated.
In initial testimony four years ago, HDC found in general that the new West 21st Street building was far more contextual than the new buildings on 9th Avenue. At that time, though we were troubled by the glass corner that was eventually approved. It is good now to see a solid corner which creates a more cohesive streetscape. We are disappointed however to see considerably more bulk on the rooftop which distracts from the rather handsome new building and threatens to overwhelm the historic neighbors. Nothing larger than the original approval should be allowed, and a greater attempt should be made to integrate the penthouse and mechanicals with the rest of the structure and the historic complex. The grouping on this roof has none of the grace and charm of the existing skyline here.
HDC is not opposed to altering the window openings on the West Building, but we do reiterate our wish that the glass enclosure be reduced, preferably to just the central entrance bay. The West Building is the oldest building in the complex and one of the earliest Gothic revival structures in the country. Pulling back the glass wall would allow the historic building more visual breathing room, an important thing when one considers the importance of open space here.
While the depth of the windows is nicely in context with those on other buildings, it is important to note that all of the other windows have divided lights. A similar treatment on the new building would allow it to blend more with the old and decrease the impact of such large panes of glass.
Finally, as HDC testified two weeks ago, the proposed fencing (and the fencing within the fencing) is not appropriate for an area historically defined by its open space. We would recommend instead that plantings be used to delineate space as is often required in historically open, garden settings like Jackson Heights and Sunnyside Gardens.
LPC determination: No action
Item 27
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN
115872- Block 856, lot 14-
21 East 26th Street – Madison Square North Historic District
A neo-Classical style office and showroom building by Treanor & Fatio and built in 1924. Application is to construct a rooftop addition, alter the front and rear facades, and install lighting.
The façade alterations proposed for 21 East 26th Street are sensitive and appropriate, although HDC would prefer one door on the front façade as there was originally. Also, other lighting fixtures should be explored as the proposed chrome and frosted glass ones look rather industrial for this small neo-Classical building.
A rooftop addition at this location is difficult as the nearby park increases visibility, including from the neighboring Ladies’ Mile Historic District. There is an addition there now though, and it should be used as a guide. While the new addition should not be built much taller or extend forward further than the existing, there is plenty of room on this through-block building to extend towards the 27th Street façade.
LPC determination: Approved with modifications
Item 31
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN
120513- Block 1376, lot 15-
680 Madison Avenue – Upper East Side Historic District
A neo-Georgian style apartment building designed by K.B. Norton and built in 1950-51. Application is to construct rooftop additions, alter the façade, replace windows, construct a new building and establish a master plan governing the installation of storefront infill, signage and awnings.
HDC would like to thank the applicant for the clear, helpful presentation given to our Public Review committee. While HDC finds the overall concept of the proposed appropriate, we do have objections to some of the details.
The roof top addition is definitely large and clearly visible, but the idea of capping off the building is a good one. We find though that the proposed has more of an Art Deco feel, not the right choice of styles for a building described as neo-Georgian. The large expanse of an aluminum window wall also seems too plain for a capping feature. The details of the second and third floors should be further articulated at this focal point and scale of these details be restudied so that the result is not so monolithic.
While great lengths have gone into trying to retain the look of the windows, HDC finds the use of aluminum and the change in operation disappointing. Great strides have been made and are continuing to be made in energy efficient rolled steel windows, and we ask that all options be explored. A change in operation could be found appropriate if the material stayed the same, but changing both features is hard to accept.
The façade and storefront changes are acceptable, but where historic fabric can be kept it should be. In particular, the memory of the original residential entrance should be preserved. It creates a focus on the block-long base and a sense of the whole building rather than just a strip of stores. The Carlton House was the epitome of elegance when it opened its doors in 1951 and not just thanks to its staff made up of employees from the former Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Its Madison Avenue address helped make the building (and still does today), and this should be reflected in the new design. Many elegant retail establishments along the avenue now have impressive entrances, so it should not be an encumbrance to have one here also.
Finally the new infill buildings on the side streets are considerate, quiet new additions to the blocks. Our only suggestion is that a brick finish that matches 680 would be preferable on 62nd Street. The piece should look more like the building of which it is a part and not the unrelated neighbor.
LPC determination: No action