Landmark permit issued for 38 EAST 76TH STREET, MANHATTAN in UPPER EAST SIDE

Landmark building permit details

Location 38 EAST 76TH STREET, MANHATTAN
Issue date March 13, 2007
(?) COFA COFA 07-6728

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 07-1502
Historic district Upper East Side
Landmark name N/A
Expiration date February 13, 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 of February 13, 2007, following the Public Meeting of January 23, 2007,
and the Public Hearing and Public Meeting of October 24, 2006, voted to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness
for the proposed work at the subject premises, as put forth in your application completed on September 28, 2006.

The proposal, as approved, consists of alterations to the front facade and the areaway, including the removal of
the modern areaway entrance and door surround, the removal of a second door set into a modified window
opening at the areaway, the areaway fence, the areaway paving, and the steps leading from the sidewalk down
into the areaway, and also the modern window at the parlor floor; and the construction of a new parlor floor
entrance with paired glass and wood doors with a mahogany finish, set below a glass transom with the street
number painted on the glass, and a new box stoop with a brownstone cheek wall, black-painted iron hand rails,
areaway railings, and gate, and an iron panel set into the cheek wall; and the installation of new areaway paving
and an under-stoop gate, all as shown in drawings A200, A201, A201a, A202, A204, A205, A210, and A211, all
dated February 13, 2007, and A651, dated February 20, 2007, which include photo-montages, photographs of the
existing conditions, and historic photographs, all prepared and presented at the Public Hearing and the Public
Meetings by Jeffrey McKean Architect, P. C. The proposal, as initially presented in drawings A200 through 210,
dated September 18, 2006, proposed a wider solid cheek wall without the iron inset panel, and a different
areaway fence, and on January 23, 2007, in drawings A200, A202, A204, A205, and A210 of that date, proposed
a solid taller and narrower cheek wall.

In reviewing this proposal, the Commission noted that the Upper East Side Historic District Designation Report
describes 38 East 76th Street as a Queen Anne style rowhouse designed by John G. Prague and built in
1881-82; and that the building's style, scale materials, details, and position within a significantly intact row are
among the features which contribute to the special architectural and historic character of the Upper East Side
Historic District. The Commission also noted that the houses in this row were constructed with straight stoops,
and that they were all removed prior to designation; and that Certificate of Appropriateness 05-0437 was issued
on August 6, 2004, for alterations to the front facade and the construction of a rear yard addition.

With regard to this proposal, the Commission found that the proposed work will not damage or eliminate
significant features of the building; that the recreating a parlor floor entrance will return the building closer to its
original appearance; that the design, materials, proportions, and details of the paired wood and glass doors, and
the window grilles proposed for the areaway windows, are in keeping with historic detailing found at buildings of
this age and style in this historic district; that the reconstruction of a stoop will restore a significant missing
feature to the building and the streetscape; that L-shaped stoops were historically found on other buildings of this
age and style in this historic district; that because none of the other houses in the row retain their original
entrances or stoops, the construction of a L-shaped stoop in this location will not diminish the unity of the row;
that the design, materials, and detailing of the proposed stoop and areaway fence will be harmonious with the
building and the streetscape; and that the design of the stoop cheek-walls will help provide a transition between
the larger building to the west and the remaining row to the east. and that for these reasons the proposed work is
appropriate to the building, the row, and the Upper East Side Historic District.

Based on these findings, the Commission determined the proposed work to be appropriate to the building, and
voted to approve it.

In voting to grant this approval, the Commission made its determination subject to the condition that two sets of
signed and sealed Department of Building filing drawings for the approved work be submitted to the Commission
for review.

On February 21, 2007, the Commission received drawings A200, A201, and A201a, all dated February 13, 2007,
and A651, dated February 20, 2007, prepared and submitted by Jeffrey McKean Architect, P. C. Staff has
reviewed these materials and finds that the proposal approved by the Commission has been maintained. Based on
this and the above findings, Certificate of Appropriateness 07-6728 is being issued.

The approved work is limited to that described above. Please salvage a sample of the underlying brownstone,
prepare sample patches showing the proposed cementitious brownstone, and notify the Commission to arrange for
an inspection of the proposed materials to determine if they match the original material as shown in the salvaged
sample, prior to completing the final phases of the facade work. This permit is issued with the understanding that
the work will take place when the temperature remains a constant 45 degrees Fahrenheit for 72 consecutive hours.

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 John Graham.



PAGE 2
Issued: 3/13/07
DOCKET: 07-1502
Robert B. Tierney
Chair

PLEASE NOTE: PERFORATED DRAWINGS AND A COPY OF THIS PERMIT HAVE BEEN SENT TO:
Jennifer Kapp, Code, LLC

cc: Code, LLC




PAGE 3
Issued: 3/13/07
DOCKET: 07-1502

Added to EveryBlock on January 16, 2008.