Landmark permit issued for 314 HICKS STREET, BROOKLYN in BROOKLYN HEIGHTS

Landmark building permit details

Location 314 HICKS STREET, BROOKLYN
Issue date December 14, 2007
(?) COFA COFA 08-5583

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 08-4398
Historic district Brooklyn Heights
Landmark name N/A
Expiration date September 25, 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 25, 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 forth in an
application completed on August 30, 2007. This permit will expire on September 25, 2013.

The work, as approved, consists of constructing a four story, four bay wide townhouse, situated on a corner lot,
featuring red brick clad facades, wood cornice, wood two-over-two double-hung windows and wood shutters,
brownstone window sills and front entry stoop, iron railing and areaway fence and iron fence and gate along on
State Street from the rear of the townhouse to the property line; and relocating an existing sidewalk curb cut. This
work was shown in material samples, photographs and presentation boards labeled LM1 through LM9, dated
September 9, 2007, prepared by Gordon Kahn and Associates, submitted as components of the application, and
presented at the Public Hearing and Public Meetings.

In reviewing this proposal, the Commission noted that the Brooklyn Heights Historic District designation report
describes 314 Hicks Street as a lot vacant at time of designation, and that the streetscape consists predominately
of mid nineteenth century houses and carriage houses.

With regard to this proposal, the Commission found that the construction of a new building on this vacant lot will
restore the continuity of the streetwall, thereby strengthening the streetscape; that the existing streetscape is a
diverse mix of individual house types, with varying heights, and the height of the proposed building will be in
keeping with the scale of the neighboring buildings on this street; that the design of the building, based on a 19th
century attached house form, with a raised basement, brownstone stoop, red brick façade, two over two
double-hung wood windows, and painted denticulate cornice, is consistent and harmonious with the other
buildings in the streetscape; that the brick and brownstone proposed for the building façade will harmonize with
the materials of the buildings on this and the surrounding streets; that the horizontal divisions, created by the
masonry joints and fenestration pattern, are consistent with the scale of the neighboring buildings; that the simple
detailing and fenestration pattern of the sidewall will be in keeping with side facades of corner rowhouses
throughout the district; that the depth and design of the rear of the building will be compatible with the scale of
the surrounding buildings and harmonious with the character of the proposed building; that the proposed areaway
and black painted metal fence will create a transition between the sidewalk and building and will help it to relate
to the adjacent rowhouses which have original areaway; and that the proposed ironwork at the areaway and rear
yard will relate well to the height, style and materials of areaway and garden fences found throughout the historic
district; that the proposed enlarging of the existing curb cut will not result in the destruction of any historic
paving materials;
-that the proposal will eliminate one of the two curb cuts currently present at this corner lot; that there are carriage
houses, garages, and other curb cuts located on this street, and therefore, a precedent for curb cuts on this block;
and that the parking space will be limited in size so that it will not completely eliminate the presence of a planted
rear yard. Based on these findings, the Commission determined that the work is appropriate to the historic district,
and voted to approve this application.

However, in voting to grant this approval, the Landmarks Preservation Commission made its determination
subject to the condition that the shutters at the western most window bays along State Street be eliminated; that
the first floor windows be reconfigured to express a more traditional size window; and that a detail wall section
drawing be provided to shown the details of the window lintels and sills, and that two sets of final signed and
sealed drawings showing the approved proposal, which shall be filed with the Department of Buildings, be
submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for review and approval.

Subsequently, on December 5, 2007, the staff of the Commission received drawings A0.1, A0.2, F0.3, F.04, F.05,
A2.0, A2.1, A2.2, A2.3, A4.0, A4.1, A4.2, A9.0, dated October 16, 2007, and A7.0A7.1, A7.2, A7.3, dated April
18, 2007, and A10.0, date March 16, 2007, prepared by Gordon Jacques Kahn, R.A. and M-1 through M-9, dated
April 2, 2007, prepared by Bruce McCutcheon, P.E. and S-1 through S-5, dated January 30, 2007, prepared by
Donald Friedman, P.E. The Landmarks Preservation Commission staff reviewed the drawings and found that the
proposal approved by the Commission has been maintained. Therefore, these drawings are being marked
approved by the Commission with a perforated seal, and this Certificate of Appropriateness is being issued.


PLEASE NOTE: This permit is issued contingent upon the Commission's review and approval of the final
material samples of brick, stucco, brownstone, mortar, paint selection, and shop drawings for windows, cornice,
and decorative details prior to the commencement of the work. Please contact the Landmarks Preservation
Commission staff when they become available.

PLEASE ALSO NOTE: As the approved work consists of subsurface work, the applicant is required to strictly
adhere to the Department of Buildings TPPN 10/88 governing in-ground construction adjacent to historic
buildings. It is the applicant's obligation at the time of applying for their permit to inform the Department of
Buildings that the TPPN applies.

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
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Issued: 12/14/07
DOCKET: 08-4398
displayed at the site while work is in progress. Please direct inquiries to Kim Valente.




Robert B. Tierney
Chair

PLEASE NOTE: PERFORATED DRAWINGS AND A COPY OF THIS PERMIT HAVE BEEN SENT TO:
Grodon J. Kahn, AIA, Gordon Kahn Associates

cc: Gordon Kahn Associates; William Neeley, Deputy Director of Preservation




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Issued: 12/14/07
DOCKET: 08-4398

Added to EveryBlock on February 1, 2008.

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