Landmark permit issued for 294 CUMBERLAND STREET, BROOKLYN in FORT GREENE

Landmark building permit details

Location 294 CUMBERLAND STREET, BROOKLYN
Issue date November 16, 2007
(?) COFA COFA 08-4948

Certificates of Appropriateness (COFAs) are issued by the landmarks commission when it approves such things as building construction, demolition and visible additions to historic property. The certificates require a public hearing and the entire process can take several months.

Docket 08-3927
Historic district Fort Greene
Landmark name N/A
Expiration date September 18, 2013
Text
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 and Public Hearing of
July 10, 2007, voted to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness for the proposed work at the subject premises, as
put forward in your application completed on June 14, 2007, and as you were informed in Status Update Letter
08-3356 (LPC 07-7479), issued September 21, 2007.

The proposed work, as approved, includes constructing a new four-story building on a vacant lot featuring a brick
and cast-stone façade, two-over-two, wood, double-hung windows, and a fiberglass cornice, a front areaway with
a wrought iron railing, a brick stair bulkhead and metal roof railings, a brick side elevation, and a stucco rear
façade with balconies within the setback, as shown in drawings and photographs labeled LP1 through LP13,
received at the Commission September 2007, prepared by Kutnicki Bernstein Architects. The proposal as initially
presented had no areaway, featured higher windows at the top floor, and the rear façade had no setback where it
meets the adjacent rowhouse, as shown in drawings and photographs labeled LP1 through LP10, received at the
Commission July 2007, prepared by Kutnicki Bernstein Architects.

In reviewing this proposal, the Commission noted that 294 Cumberland Street is a vacant lot; and that the west
side of Cumberland Avenue between Lafayette and Greene Avenue is characterized by mid-19th century brick
and brownstone Italianate style houses of a uniform height and details.
With regard to this proposal, the Commission found that because the building is situated towards the end of the
block where higher buildings are located, it will not disrupt the very uniform height of the lower row houses that
comprise the rest of the streetscape; that the building will restore the continuity of the streetwall, thereby
strengthening the streetscape; that the brick and brownstone proposed for the building facade will harmonize with
the materials of the buildings in the surrounding streets; that the details of the proposed building, including the
bracketed cornice, two-over-two windows, and brownstone base and window lintels and sills, are based on details
found on adjacent buildings, and on other buildings elsewhere in the historic district; that the scale and
organization of the proposed fenestration pattern, including the proportions of glazing and masonry, will relate
harmoniously to the adjacent buildings and other buildings on this block; that the proposed visible side elevation
will be consistent with the materials and fenestration of the side elevations of other buildings of this type in the
historic district; that the proposed areaway and iron fence will create a transition between the sidewalk and
building, and help it relate to the adjacent row of houses which all have original areaways; that the setback
portion of the rear facade will align with the existing rear additions on the adjacent rowhouses, thus creating a
transition from the rowhouses to the new building; that the three bays of single windows and doors on the rear
facade relate well to the three bay rear facades of the rowhouses; and that the presence of a low-scale brick
residential building in this location will enhance of the special architectural and historic character of the Fort
Greene Historic District. Based on these findings, the Commission determined the proposed work to be
appropriate to the building and the historic district, and voted to approve this application.

However, in voting to grant this approval, the Commission made its determination subject to the condition that
the depth of the areaway be increased to align with the neighboring areaways. The Commission authorized the
issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness upon receipt, review and approval of two signed and sealed copies of
the final drawings for the approved work to be submitted to the Department of Buildings, showing a deeper
areaway aligned with the neighboring areaways.

Subsequently, the staff of the Commission received drawings A000, A001, A002, A003, A005, A100, A101,
A410, A411, A702, and A901, revised November 12, 2007, and A300, A301, A400 and A600, revised November
16, 2007, prepared by Kutnicki Bernstein Architects. The Commission reviewed the drawings and noted that
mechanical units and low wood fences have been added to the roof. Regarding the mechanical units and fences,
the Commission found in accordance with the provisions of Title 63 of RDNY, Section 2-19, that the installation
of the mechanical units and fence will either not be visible, or be minimally visible, from public thoroughfares;
and that their installations will not adversely affect significant architectural features of adjacent improvements.
The Commission further found that the proposal approved by the Commission has been maintained. Based on
these and the above findings, the drawings have been marked approved by the LPC with a perforated seal and
Certificate of Appropriateness 08-4948 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 Lisa Schaeffer.



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Issued: 11/16/07
DOCKET: 08-3927
Robert B. Tierney
Chair

PLEASE NOTE: PERFORATED DRAWINGS AND A COPY OF THIS PERMIT HAVE BEEN SENT TO:
Daniel Bernstein, Kutnicki Bernstein Arch.

cc: D. Bernstein, KBA; W. Neeley, LPC




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Issued: 11/16/07
DOCKET: 08-3927

Added to EveryBlock on February 1, 2008.

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