Landmark permit issued for 132 CALYER STREET, BROOKLYN in GREENPOINT

Landmark building permit details

Location 132 CALYER STREET, BROOKLYN
Issue date March 28, 2007
(?) COFA COFA 07-7155

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 07-6227
Historic district Greenpoint
Landmark name N/A
Expiration date March 6, 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 March 6, 2007, following the Public Hearing and Public Meeting of
February 27, 2007, voted to approve certain work at the subject premises as put forward in your application
completed on February 1, 2007.

The proposal, as approved, consists of the alteration and reconstruction of the existing wood-framed back house,
and additional alterations to include replacing vinyl siding with new fiber cement composite clapboard siding, as
shown in photographs, a block plan, copies of surveys dated 5/26/24 and 5/28/92, and drawings A.001 dated
12/4/06, A.100, S.100, S.101, and S.200 dated 10/6/06, prepared by AEN Architects, submitted as components of
the application and presented at the Public Hearing and Public Meetings. The proposal originally presented to the
Commission called for retaining the vinyl siding.

In reviewing this proposal, the Commission notes that 132 Calyer Street is a wood frame back house built circa
1868-62; and that the building's age and scale are among the features which cause it to contribute to the special
architectural and historic character of the Greenpoint Historic District. The Commission further noted that the
work is substantially complete, and that the Department of Buildings had issued a Violation and Stop Work Order
for this work.

With regard to this application, the Commission found that the new building recalls the historic massing of the
original back building; that the height and simple massing of the building is compatible with other buildings
within the block; that the building maintains its original relationship with the main house and the adjacent
properties as a free-standing, subordinate, secondary structure; that the fenestration pattern is regular and
consistent, and relates well to the pattern and scale of window openings at adjacent buildings; that because the
new building is in keeping with the historic footprint of the original building, its construction did not eliminate
the rear yard or reduce the central green space; and that in terms of overall volume, design and proportions, the
reconstruction of the building will not detract from the special architectural and historic character of the block
and the historic district.

However, the Commission found that synthetic siding will not successfully evoke historic building materials in
terms of its size, finish and texture and will detract from the character of the adjacent houses and the central green
space. Therefore, the Commission made its determination subject to the stipulation that the house be clad in
natural wood siding or fiber cement cladding which will more closely recall the texture of historic materials that
would have been on the house; and that two sets of signed and sealed DOB filing drawings, revised to incorporate
these changes, be submitted to the staff of the Commission.

Subsequently, the Commission received drawings A.001, A.100, A.200, and S.100 dated 03/01/07, prepared by
Kevin Byrne Architects, RA, and a letter dated March 22, 2007. Accordingly, the staff reviewed the materials
and found that the proposal approved by the Commission has been maintained.

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 William Neeley.




Robert B. Tierney
Chair

PLEASE NOTE: PERFORATED DRAWINGS AND A COPY OF THIS PERMIT HAVE BEEN SENT TO:
Kevin Byrne, Kevin Byrne Architects, PC

cc: Kevin Byrne, RA; Sarah Carroll, Director of Preservation/LPC




PAGE 2
Issued: 3/28/07
DOCKET: 07-6227

Added to EveryBlock on January 16, 2008.

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