Landmark permit issued for 4620 DELAFIELD AVENUE, BRONX in FIELDSTON

Landmark building permit details

Location 4620 DELAFIELD AVENUE, BRONX
Issue date June 13, 2007
(?) COFA COFA 07-9223

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 07-8091
Historic district Fieldston
Landmark name N/A
Expiration date March 15, 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 13, 2007, following the Public Hearing and Public Meeting of
February 27, 2007, voted to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness for a portion of the proposed work at the
subject premises, as put forth in your application completed on February 1, 2007.



The work, as approved, consists of constructing two story additions to the east and south facades, including
altering the roof lines along the facades to enlarge the existing ells and altering the historic double-height window
opening; and constructing new additions with material and details to match the original stucco, half timbering,
fieldstone and roofing material; as shown in photo boards, material samples and drawings on 12 presentation
boards, dated February 26, 2007, prepared by Richard Bienenfeld Architects P.C.; and revised drawings labeled
A-200, A201, 1 and 2, dated February 6, 2006; revised March 5, 2007, and submitted as components of the
application and presented at the Public Hearing and Public Meetings. The proposal, as initially presented to the
Commission included a continuous eave line on the east façade, a varied window configuration of the east façade
with varying stucco detail, and the elimination of the original turreted room. The Commission took no action on
this portion of the proposal.



In reviewing the proposal, the Fieldston Historic District designation report noted that 4620 Delafield Avenue is a
Tudor Revival style free standing house designed by Julius Gregory and built 1926-1927. The Commission also
noted that the building's scale, style, materials, and details are among the features that contribute to the special
architectural and historic character of the Fieldston Historic District and that this Tudor Revival style house was
designed by architect Julius Gregory and built in 1926-1927, at a time when the Fieldston neighborhood was
being developed with homes in a variety of picturesque style following the strict guidelines of the Fieldston
Property Owners Association. The Commission finally notes that the Fieldston Historic District is distinguished
by rugged terrain and winding roads, and houses are typically seen from a wider variety of vantage point; that
buildings were sited to take advantage of varied and picturesque topography, and thereby designed on all four
sides; and that the houses evidence a compactly composed, picturesque, and-often-asymmetrical massing. The
staff finally notes that in 1938, the NYC City Planning Commission ("CPC") created a special "G" zone for
Fieldston to restrict building to single-family residences; and that in 1974, CPC established the "Special Natural
Area District" to guide development to preserve significant natural feature, such as steep slopes, rock
outcroppings, and trees, by requiring CPC review of site alterations and new development.



With regard to this proposal, the Commission found that that the proposed additions will not eliminate significant
architectural features from the house; that locating the bulk of the additions at the rear of the house will preserve
the historic appearance of the primary entrance facade; that the additions will follow the original shape of the
building, thereby preserving the original asymmetrical massing; that the overall scale and massing of the
proposed additions will maintain the individual roof components, stepped rooflines, and irregular planes of the
facades, and picturesque qualities of this freestanding house; that the size of the building with the additions will
cover 25% of the lot which will be consistent with the scale and lot coverage of other buildings in this historic
district; that the size and height of the additions, including rooflines will be subordinate to the original scale of
the house; that the size, style and proportions of the windows will relate to the fenestration found throughout the
existing building; that the materials used for the additions will be harmonious with the materials and the color
palette of the existing building; and that the proposed additions will not diminish the special architectural and
historic character of the Fieldston Historic District. Based on these findings, the Commission determined the
proposed work to be appropriate to the building and the Fieldston Historic District, and voted to approve it.



However, in voting to grant this approval, the Commission made its determination subject to the condition 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 June 1, 2007, the Commission received two sets of final drawings labeled A-001 through
A-004, A-200, A-201, A-300, A-301, A-400 and S-100, dated January 20, 2007;last revised April 19, 2007,
prepared by Richard Bienenfeld, R.A. The Commission reviewed the submitted drawings and found that the
proposal approved by the Commission has been maintained. The Commission staff noted that the drawings
included additional work, consisting of interior alterations, and removing and reconfiguring existing floor joists.
Therefore, these drawings are being marked approved by the Commission with a perforated seal, and this
Certificate of Appropriateness is being issued.



This permit is issued contingent upon the Commission's review and approval of samples of the proposed stone,
stucco mortar, caulking, etc., as well as required shop drawings for all windows and doors that is hereby
requested, all prior to 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
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DOCKET: 07-8091
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 Kim Valente.




Robert B. Tierney
Chair

PLEASE NOTE: PERFORATED DRAWINGS AND A COPY OF THIS PERMIT HAVE BEEN SENT TO:
Richard Bienenfeld, Richard Bienenfeld Architect P.C.

cc: Richard Bienenfeld Architect P.C.; Valerie Campbell; Nester Danaluck, City Planning Commission; William
Neeley, Deputy Director of Preservation




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Added to EveryBlock on January 16, 2008.