HDC@LPC Testimony for November 22, 2022

Created on Nov 28, 2022 by hdc

Certificate of Appropriateness Testimony

LPC-22-08844

34-19 83rd Street – Jackson Heights Historic District

CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS

A neo-Tudor style garden home designed by Pierce L. Kieswetter and built in 1928-29. Application is to install mechanical units in the front yard.

We appreciate this homeowner’s attempt to conceal their condensing unit, but feel that the front yard is an inappropriate place to install the unit. This home has a flat roof, where the condensing unit should be placed.

Determination: Approved 6-1

LPC-22-12336

232 West 10th Street – Greenwich Village Historic District

CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS

A transitional Federal/Greek Revival style rowhouse built in 1832 with later Italianate alterations. Application is to construct a rooftop and rear yard additions, and excavate the rear yard.

Architect: Joseph Vance Architects

HDC finds the proposed additional bulk to be appropriate overall, but feels that two elements should be reconsidered: first, the lack of hierarchy on the rear facade should be addressed so that it is more in keeping with a single-family home. Second, the applicant should reconsider the proportion of masonry to masonry openings. Finally, we note that the top floor of the rear facade may have significant leaded-glass windows. We urge the commission to consider whether they are protected features.

Determination: Unanimously approved with modifications to reduce the bulkhead, and to restudy the proportions of the fenestration at the rear.

LPC-23-02975

112 2nd Avenue – East Village/Lower East Side Historic District

CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS

A Gothic Revival style church building designed by Samuel Burrage Reed and built in 1891- 1892. Application is to demolish the remaining façade and foundation after the building experienced a fire.

Architect: Anthony Johnson Architect

HDC is excited to see Middle Collegiate Church rebuild and flourish at 112 Second Avenue for many years to come. As East Village neighbors, we are keenly aware of the toll the fire has taken on Middle Collegiate, and the East Village community, but we find an application to demolish the church’s facade to be inappropriate at this time.

HDC feels clearing the site should be a last resort. We appreciate Madsen Consulting Engineering’s independent assessment of the facade, which found the structure to be globally stable, and recommended continued investigation into whether the facade can be further stabilized and remediated. We agree that continued investigation might allow some or all of this facade to be preserved and we urge the LPC and applicant to follow through on the recommendations and work with an engineering firm with extensive preservation experience to further explore how this facade can be retained and incorporated into Middle Collegiate’s plans.

HDC also believes that any demolition should be accompanied by a proposed design for a new building on the site, rather than leaving this site vacant for an unknown amount of time. We look forward to seeing Middle Collegiate’s plans for a new church at 112 Second Avenue, and hope that after further investigation, some part of the facade may be retained, restored and incorporated into a new piece of architecture. We note that some of the most creative modern ecclesiastical structures, such as Paul Rudolph’s First Church in Boston, are built by salvaging and incorporating the remaining elements of fire-damaged churches.

Determination: No action

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