HDC@LPC Testimony for March 19, 2024

CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS TESTIMONY

LPC-24-06643 
119 Pierrepont Street – Brooklyn Heights Historic District

CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS

A church building designed by Minard Lafever and built in 1844, with an attached chapel built in 1866. Application is to replace the brownstone spires with a substitute material.

Architect: Ayon Studio

Angel Ayon, whose firm is the applicant for this proposal, is on HDC’s board, though he was not present for our committee’s discussion about this item. HDC supports this application and finds it perfectly appropriate.

Action: approved.

LPC-24-07178 
Prospect Park – Scenic Landmark

ADVISORY REPORT
A primarily naturalistic style park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux and built in 1866-1873. Application is to modify pathways and landscaping and install paving, bridges and walkways.

Architect: Prospect Park Alliance

In general, HDC finds this project both appropriate and laudable. The restoration of the lakeshore and the softening of its edges is necessary and welcome. In fact, we urge the Alliance to take this approach even further, and to restore historic variations in the lakeshore – including island and inlets – envisioned by Olmsted and Vaux.

Action: Unanimous positive advisory report with suggestion that they look at retaining and incorporating the stone wall.

LPC-24-07069 and LPC-24-07310
712 Fifth Avenue (aka 712-716 Fifth Avenue) – Rizzoli and Former Coty Building –
Individual Landmark

CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS AND MODIFICATION OF USE AND BULK
712 Fifth Avenue (the Rizzoli Building), a Neo-French classic style building designed by Albert S. Gottlieb and built in 1907-08; 714 Fifth Avenue (the Former Coty Building), a commercial building with French design details designed by Woodruff Leeming and built in 1907-08; and 716 Fifth Avenue, a building designed by Beyer Blinder Belle Architects and built c. 1990. Application is to amend a special permit to allow for façade recladding and modifications to 716 Fifth Avenue, and to reclad and modify the façade of 716 Fifth Avenue and install awnings and signage.

Architect: KPA

The Historic Districts Council finds this proposal inappropriate. The applicant’s presentation shows 1987 correspondence from LPC which holds that design appropriateness at this site is based on “the perception of 712, 714 and 716 Fifth Avenue as separate, discrete structures.” We believe that judgment should still hold in this case, and that this proposal is inappropriate because it subsumes 716 into 718. 

Though 716 itself is not an historic structure, it is an example of very sensitive infill architecture that is harmonious with the streetscape while also maintaining its own distinct identity. As such it serves as an important lesson about the possibilities of infill architecture – i.e. that it is possible to express both harmony and individuality within a historic district. This proposal makes that lesson illegible. 

Action: no action.

LPC-24-05494
19 Circle Road – Douglaston Historic District

CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS 
A Colonial Revival style free-standing house designed by George J. Hardway and built in 1920. Application is to legalize the Installation of a retaining wall without Landmarks Preservation Commission permit(s).

Architect: Envision Engineering Services

HDC finds this work done without LPC permits to be inappropriate, and we ask the Commission not to legalize it. We note that historic district street signage stands directly in front of this site, so it is not plausible that the applicants did not know they needed a permit from LPC for this work.

Action: laid over.