Landmark permit issued for 55 GROVE STREET, MANHATTAN in GREENWICH VILLAGE
Landmark building permit details
| Location | 55 GROVE STREET, MANHATTAN |
|---|---|
| Issue date | October 29, 2007 |
| COFA | COFA 08-4437 |
| Docket | 08-3111 |
| Historic district | Greenwich Village |
| Landmark name | N/A |
| Expiration date | September 18, 2013 |
| Text | ISSUED TO: Stephen Gambrel Grove Street Project, LLC c/o S.R. Gambrel Inc. 270 Lafayette Street, Ste. 805, New York, NY 10012 Pursuant to Section 25-307 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York, the Landmarks Preservation Commission, at the Public Meeting of September 18, 2007, following the Public Meeting of August 7, 2007, and the Public Hearing and Public meeting of July 24, 2007, voted to approve a proposal to alter the façade, as put forward in your application completed June 28, 2007. The approval will expire September 18, 2013. The work at the primary facade, as approved, consists of the removal of the of the existing Garden State brickface and the deteriorated original brick beneath it, and the rebuilding of the façade with brick of the same size, shape, texture, and bonding pattern as the historic brick; the lowering of the window sills at the upper stories to match the sill levels of the adjacent rowhouse; the installation of new steel casement windows to match the existing, which date from the 1940's; the removal of the residential and commercial entrances, the two window bays, and the large exhaust louver, at the ground floor, and the installation of a new residential entrance with an orange door, and a new multi-light steel and glass storefront, set back 2.5" from the plane of the street, featuring bronze paneled bulkheads, an entrance door off-set by a metal pier, and pin-mounted metal signage (S. R. Gambrel) at the signband spanning the shopfront. As initially presented, the design consisted of a single large masonry opening, set at the plane of the street, with a multi-light steel and glass storefront flanked by a residential and a commercial entrance. The approved work was shown on presentation boards consisting of revised streetscape renderings, material samples, and drawings labeled "55 Grove Street," LPC-1, LPC-2, LPC3, LPC-4, LPC-6, R.A., dated 5/15/07, prepared by Franke, Gottsegen, Cox Architects and presented at the Public Hearing and Public Meetings. In reviewing this proposal, the Commission notes that the Greenwich Village Historic District designation report describes 55 Grove Street as a three-story brick house built in 1839; and that the building's scale, materials, and details contribute to the special architectural and historic character of the Greenwich Village Historic District. The Commission further notes that the building has housed a piano bar for generations, and that the radical changes made to the façade post 1940, when it became a musical entertainment and drinking establishment, constitute an historically significant alteration. With regard to this proposal, the Commission found that the existing Garden State Brick face at the primary façade is in poor condition and detracts from the façade, therefore, its removal will not result in the elimination of significant historic fabric; that the original brick at the primary façade is in poor condition, and compromises the structural integrity of the building, therefore the rebuilding of the facade with new brick to match the existing will ensure the building's long term preservation; that painting the façade in a light color will maintain the character of the 1940 alteration, and is in keeping with the nature of façade changes which occurred on many buildings in the district over time; that the proposed metal, glass, and stucco storefront, is a modern evocation of a 1940's storefront both in its design and its use of materials, and relates to the building's period of significant alterations; that the proposed design will maintain the historic separation of the residential and commercial entrances at the ground floor; that the scale of the storefront opening will be in keeping with other storefronts on the street and storefronts in other nearby rowhouses in the historic district; that this modern storefront features vertical and horizontal metal elements which divide it into a recognizably historic storefront configuration with the display window and transom set above a bulkhead, and an entrance door that is separated by a pier; that the new multi-light steel casement windows will match the proportions, operation, configuration, material and finish of the historic steel windows; and that the proposed storefront and facade alterations will regularize the building's façade, and strengthen the character of the historic district. Based on these findings, the Commission determined the proposed work to be appropriate to the building and the Greenwich Village Historic District, and voted to approve it. The Commission authorized the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness upon receipt, review and approval of two sets of signed and sealed Department of Building filing drawings showing the approved design. Subsequently, on October 16, 2007, the Landmarks Preservation Commission received final architectural drawings labeled DOB-01 through DOB-08, dated 5/15/07, and prepared by Mathew Gottsegen, R.A.; and structural drawings labeled S-1 through S-5, dated 4/5/07, and prepared by Wayman Wing P.E. Accordingly, staff reviewed the drawings and found that the proposal has been modified to include a reversal of the location of the residential entrance and the storefront at the ground floor. With regard to this amendment, the Commission found that the proposed change is keeping with the spirit of the original approval, and that the proposal approved by the Commission has been maintained. Based on this and the above findings, the drawings have been marked approved with a perforated seal, and Certificate of Appropriateness 08-4437 is being issued. This permit is issued on the basis of the building and site conditions described in the application and disclosed during the review process. By accepting this permit, the applicant agrees to notify the Commission if the actual building or site conditions vary or if original or historic building fabric is discovered. The Commission reserves the right to amend or revoke this permit, upon written notice to the applicant, in the event that the actual building or site conditions are materially different from those described in the application or disclosed during the review process. All approved drawings are marked approved by the Commission with a perforated seal indicating the date of approval. The work is limited to what is contained in the perforated documents. Other work or amendments to this filing must be reviewed and approved separately. The applicant is hereby put on notice that performing or maintaining any work not explicitly authorized by this permit may make the applicant liable for criminal and/or civil penalties, including imprisonment and fines. This letter constitutes the permit; a copy must be prominently displayed at the site while work is in progress. Please direct inquiries to Andria Darby. PAGE 2 Issued: 10/29/07 DOCKET: 08-3111 Robert B. Tierney Chair PLEASE NOTE: PERFORATED DRAWINGS AND A COPY OF THIS PERMIT HAVE BEEN SENT TO: Elaine Rios, Conversano Associates cc: Michael Gottsegen; Caroline Kane Levy, Deputy Director of Preservation PAGE 3 Issued: 10/29/07 DOCKET: 08-3111 |
Added to EveryBlock on January 16, 2008.