Landmark permit issued for 50 GREENE STREET, MANHATTAN in SOHO-CAST IRON

Landmark building permit details

Location 50 GREENE STREET, MANHATTAN
Issue date May 1, 2007
(?) COFA COFA 07-7923

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 07-6852
Historic district Soho - Cast Iron
Landmark name N/A
Expiration date June 14, 2011
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 June 14, 2005, 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 your
application completed on May 16, 2005. This permit will expire on June 14, 2011.

The work, as approved, consists of legalizing the installation of the wood and glass storefront infill without
Landmarks Preservation Commission permits, which consists of a bulkhead and large display windows, at the
southern most storefront; removing the counterweight ladders installed without permits and installing drop
ladders; legalizing the one bay extension of the southern fire escape platform and railing at the first floor and
modifying the design of the railing to match the existing; and extending the northern fire escape platform and
railing at the first floor one bay to match the existing fire escape. This work was shown in photo boards; and
drawings LPC 1, LPC 2, LPC 6, and LPC 7, dated February 9, 2005; and LPC 3, LPC 4, and LPC 5, dated March
21, 2005; prepared by Gerrard + Tan Architects, and submitted as components of the application, and presented at
the Public Hearing and Public Meetings.

In reviewing this proposal, the Commission noted that the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District designation report
describes 42-50 Greene Street as a French Renaissance Revival-style store and loft building designed by Griffith
Thomas and built in 1869; and a French Renaissance-style store and loft building built in 1860; and that the
buildings' style, scale, materials, and details are among those features that contribute to the special architectural
and historic character of the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District. The Commission also noted that Notice of
Violation (NOV) 01-0037was issued on March 4, 2003, for, "alterations, including replacement of entrance and
painting, at ground floor of 42-44 Greene Street without permit(s) ;" NOV 01-0038 was issued on March 4, 2003,
for, "installation of flagpole and a banner ("Artemide") at 2nd floor of 42-44 Greene Street without permit(s) ;"
NOV 01-0407 was issued on June 6, 2001, for, "installation of flagpole and banner ("Kerquelen") at
southern-most pier without permit(s) ;" NOV 01-0409 was issued on June 6, 2001, for, "installation of sign
("ARCA") at ground floor of 42-44 Greene Street without permit(s) ;" and Warning Letter 03-0663 was issued on
February 10, 2003, for, "alterations to fire escape at 42-44 Greene Street without permit(s)."

With regard to this proposal, the Commission found that the alterations to the storefront maintain the
transparency of the ground floor, a characteristic of the commercial buildings in this historic district; that the
configuration, details, style and finish of the storefront are in keeping with a building of this style and age; that
the proposed work at the fire escapes will simplify the design and eliminate visual clutter from the facade; that the
fire escape extensions will match the historic fire escapes on the building; and that the proposed extensions to the
fire-escapes will not diminish the special architectural and historic character of the building and the historic
district, where fire-escapes are significant features of the streetscape. Based on these findings, the Commission
determined that the work is appropriate to the building and to the historic district, and voted to approve this
application.

However, in voting to grant this approval, the Commission made its determination subject to the stipulation that
two sets of final signed and sealed drawings, showing the approved work, which are to be filed at the Department
of Buildings, be submitted to the staff of the Commission for review and approval.

Subsequently, on March 30, 2007, the staff of the Commission received drawings LPC 1, LPC 2, LPC 6, and
LPC 7, dated February 9, 2005; prepared by Robert Tan, R.A. The Commission staff noted that the drawings
included additional work including, removing two flagpoles and associated hardware from the cast iron and
masonry at the first floor and repairing the underlying cast iron and masonry. With regard to the additional work,
the Commission finds, the Commission finds that the proposed work is restorative in nature and will return the
building more closely to its historic appearance; and that the repair mortar will match the masonry in terms of
color, texture, finish and tooling and therefore, will not be detrimental to the surrounding masonry in terms of
being too strong or hard. The Commission reviewed the submitted drawings and found that 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 NOVs 01-0037, 01-0038, 01-0407, NOV 01-0409, and Warning Letter 03-0663 will be rescinded
when the work approved under this permit has been completed and inspected for compliance. Please notify the
Landmarks Preservation Commission staff when the work has been completed, and send clear color photographs
of the completed work and a letter to the Commission requesting that a Notice of Compliance be issued.

This permit is issued contingent upon the Commission's review and approval of test samples of the finish coat of
the masonry repair mortar adjacent to original, cleaned masonry located on the subject premises, prior to the
commencement of the work; and the understanding, that the work will take place when the exterior temperature
remains a constant 45 degrees F or above for a 72-hour period from the commencement of the work. Please
contact the Landmarks Preservation Commission staff when the samples are ready in order to arrange a site visit.

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 Rob Panepinto.

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Issued: 5/1/07
DOCKET: 07-6852
Robert B. Tierney
Chair

PLEASE NOTE: PERFORATED DRAWINGS AND A COPY OF THIS PERMIT HAVE BEEN SENT TO:
Robert Tan, Gerrard + Tan Architects

cc: Robert Tan; Sarah Carroll, Director of Preservation; William Neeley, Deputy Director of Preservation




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Issued: 5/1/07
DOCKET: 07-6852

Added to EveryBlock on January 16, 2008.

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