HDC@LPC Testimony for June 10, 2025

CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS TESTIMONY

LPC-25-10179
172 St. Paul’s Avenue – St. Paul’s Avenue-Stapleton Heights Historic District

CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS

A Greek Revival style rectory building later converted to a free-standing residence built c. 1830s. Application is to legalize the construction of a portico and the installation of a porch railing without Landmarks Preservation Commission permit(s).

HDC finds all elements of this proposal to be inappropriate.

The portico does not match the Greek Revival style of the house. It is overscaled and incorrectly detailed. The relationship between the frieze and the columns is classically incorrect and the cutout in the pediment should be removed as it follows more of a colonial style. The doric columns appear to be missing their capitals and maybe their bases.

Wood is the vocabulary of the entire building and thus HDC objects to the proposed iron porch railing- it should be wooden to match what was removed. We also note that using Greek Revival precedents from southern states is irrelevant and not appropriate.

HDC asks the commission to reject this application in its entirety and require the applicant to work with staff to find a more appropriate precedent that adheres to the Greek Revival style.

Action: Approved with modifications (adding capitals, filling in portico, simplifying metal fence or reconstructing in wood) 

LPC-25-07793
117 State Street – Brooklyn Heights Historic District

CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
A Greek Revival style rowhouse built in 1839. Application is to replace windows and ironwork, install a stoop and parlor floor entrance, and construct rooftop and rear yard additions.

Architect: RACHEL FRANKEL ARCHITECTURE

HDC finds the bulk of the rear yard addition to be inappropriate and unnecessary. It is highly visible from Sidney Place and should be aligned with the neighbor directly to the west at 115 State Street. We find the rooftop extension to be modest and appropriate. The windows on the front facade should be 6 over 6 as is the stylistically correct historic configuration for this Greek Revival house.

Action: Approved. 6 in favor 2 opposed.

LPC-25-09077
419 Clermont Avenue – Fort Greene Historic District

CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
An Italianate style rowhouse designed by T.B. Jackson c. 1866. Application is to construct rooftop and rear yard additions.

Architect: PKSB Architects

HDC finds the rear yard addition to be one story too tall. The predominant rear yard additions for this donut is 2 stories and anything larger or taller than this should be rejected.

Action: Unanimously approved. 

LPC-25-02849
80 Washington Place – Greenwich Village Historic District

CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
A Greek Revival style rowhouse built in 1839 and altered in the early-20th century. Application is to alter the areaway and construct a rooftop addition.

Architect: MARMOL RADZINER

HDC finds the proposal to remove the Greek revival style fence and replace it with a taller, modern one to be inappropriate and unnecessary.

This fence is highly ornamental, likely original, and one of the only remaining indicators of the Greek Revival style of the building- we believe it should remain intact and untouched. 

Action: Unanimously approved. 

LPC-25-0875
1060 Fifth Avenue (aka 1060-1065 Fifth Avenue; 1-9 East 87th Street) – Expanded Carnegie Hill Historic District

CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
A neo-Renaissance style apartment building designed by J.E.R. Carpenter and built in 1927-28. Application is to alter masonry openings and install a new window.

Architect: FERGUSON & SHAMAMIAN ARCHITECTS

HDC finds this proposal to be inappropriate and we are left wondering why the masonry openings were allowed to be altered in the first place. 

We find the enlarged masonry openings to be inappropriate for the style of the building and note that the facade composition is meant to be symmetrical.

HDC asks the applicant to work with the LPC to prepare a masterplan for the window replacements on this building that should be based on the original configuration of the windows. 

Action: Unanimously approved.