PUBLIC HEARING TESTIMONY
LPC-25-07751
134 West 130th Street – Central Harlem – West 130-132nd Street Historic District
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
A neo-Grec style rowhouse designed by Cleverdon & Putzel and built in 1885. Application is to construct a rear yard addition.
Architect: Andre Architecture, D.P.C.
HDC finds this application to be inappropriate for the proposed finish of the rear yard extension. We do not object to the idea of an addition here, but this proposal seeks to add an addition with odd detailing and an inappropriate material choice. We would like to see this proposal redone in a way that better blends with the existing extension.
Action: 8 in Favor 1 Opposed- Approved with modification that applicant work with staff on details of material finish.
LPC-26-00971
77 Remsen Street – Brooklyn Heights Historic District
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
An Anglo-Italianate style house built in 1857. Application is to install a cornice, modify the rear roofline, construct a rooftop bulkhead, remove a bay window and construct a rear yard addition.
HDC finds the majority of this proposal to be a thoughtful and excellent restoration, especially of the front facade. Given the ambition of this renovation, HDC asks that the applicant add flat arches to the top–floor windows and have the frieze of the cornice follow that set of curves, similar to the historic facade.
The rear facade, while largely appropriate, could use further study for how the bay windows meet or do not meet the top of the parapet. Additionally, the parapet itself needs more articulation. The same level of design that has been given to the bay windows should be found in the entire composition of the extension.
Action: Unanimously approved with modifications.
LPC-26-02157
392 West Broadway – SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District Extension
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
An Italianate style commercial store and loft building designed by John H. Whitenack and built in 1872-1873. Application is to construct a rooftop addition, modify the fire escape and parapets, and replace windows.
Architect: Michael Zenreich Architect PC
HDC finds the removal of the fire escape ladders to be inappropriate. The ladders, no longer serving as a safety feature, contribute to the aesthetic character of the building and as an iconic element of the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District. We also wonder if there may be a missed opportunity for the rooftop to have a stronger relationship to the rest of the building. Perhaps this can be solved by implementing cast iron inspired elements in the rooftop addition.
Action: Unanimously approved.
LPC-26-02673
280 West 11th Street – Greenwich Village Historic District
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
A Federal style rowhouse built in 1818 and altered in 1929 by Emilio Levy. Application is to alter the front façade and areaway, enlarge a studio window, create a window opening, modify the existing rooftop addition, and construct a rear yard addition.
Architect: DXA Studio
While we do not object to the idea of the rear extension, HDC does find the retention of the rear facade to be crucial to the appropriateness of this proposal.
The angular bay windows should be retained as well as the trio of octagonal windows directly below the bays. We also think that the arched openings and the gates on the ground floor should be retained or recreated on the new extension.
The rear facade’s existing condition, while not original, is historic and part of the evolution of this building. To remove the characteristic features of this rear facade would be to lose the timeline of alterations that make this building special.
Action: No action.
LPC-25-01678
19 West 12th Street – Greenwich Village Historic District
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
A late Greek Revival style rowhouse built in 1845. Application is to remove and replace cornices.
Architect: Formactiv Architecture. Design. Technology.
HDC finds this proposal to be largely appropriate. We do think the applicant should study the amount of space between the top of the top floor window lintels and the bottom edge of the frieze of the cornice. We also note that the projecting portion of the cornice appears to have no way of managing water on the horizontal surface.
Finally, restoring the cap detail to the brownstone lintels on the facade would help this facade succeed.
Action: Unanimously approved.
LPC-26-00294
487 Hudson Street, aka 497 Hudson Street – Greenwich Village Historic District
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
A brick wall built in 1955, and a school yard. Application is to construct a new building on the site.
Architect: BKSK
HDC would like to commend this excellent proposal. We appreciate the texture in the glazed terracotta rainscreen that creates beautiful visual interest. We also commend the reconstruction of the original Hudson Street brick wall.
Action: No action.
