Landmark permit issued for 451-453 WASHINGTON STREET, MANHATTAN

Landmark building permit details

Location 451-453 WASHINGTON STREET, MANHATTAN
Issue date November 29, 2007
(?) COFA COFA 08-5245

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 08-3553
Historic district N/A
Landmark name FLEMING SMITH WAREHOUSE
Expiration date November 27, 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 November 27, 2007, following the Public Hearing of the same date, voted
to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness for the proposed work at the subject premises, as put forward in your
application completed November 1, 2007.

The proposed work, as approved, consists of legalizing the removal of fire shutters from a light and air shaft. The
work was shown on seven presentation boards, labeled 1-7 by the Commission staff; and consisting of
twenty-five photographs, four drawings, and copies of permits, letters, a materials checklist and a memo, all
submitted by Albert Capsouto, and presented at the Public Hearing and Public Meeting.

In reviewing this proposal, the Commission noted that the Fleming Smith Warehouse-Individual Landmark
Designation Report describes 451-453 Washington Street (aka 135-141 Watts Street) as a warehouse, with
Romanesque Revival and neo-Flemish style features, designed by Stephen Decatur Hatch and built in 1891-1892.

With regard to this proposal, the Commission found that the work is located in an interior shaft which is not
visible from any public thoroughfares; that the utilitarian shutters at this small light and air shaft were not a
significant design feature of this large warehouse, which prominently features high style Romanesque Revival
and neo-Flemish elements; that other shutters had already been removed from windows within the shaft prior to
designation, therefore the removal of these shutters has not disrupted an intact composition of shutters; that the
shutters were in a state of advanced disrepair; and that the work does not detract from the special character of this
Individual Landmark. Based on these findings, the Commission determined the work to be appropriate to the
building and the historic district and voted to approve the application.

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 Bernadette Artus.




Robert B. Tierney
Chair

PLEASE NOTE: PERFORATED DRAWINGS AND A COPY OF THIS PERMIT HAVE BEEN SENT TO:
Sandy Weigel, Expeditor, Property Intervention Consultants

cc: Caroline Kane Levy, Deputy Director of Preservation/LPC; Diane Simonson, Compliance Officer/LPC




PAGE 2
Issued: 11/29/07
DOCKET: 08-3553

Added to EveryBlock on February 1, 2008.

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