Landmark permit issued for 31 WEST 11TH STREET, MANHATTAN in GREENWICH VILLAGE

Landmark building permit details

Location 31 WEST 11TH STREET, MANHATTAN
Issue date August 23, 2007
(?) COFA COFA 08-2478

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 08-1646
Historic district Greenwich Village
Landmark name N/A
Expiration date May 22, 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 May 22, 2007, following the Public Hearing of the same date, voted to
approve a proposal to construct a rooftop addition, as put forward in your application completed April 12, 2007,
and as you were notified in Status Update Letter 07-8673 (LPC 07-5619) issued on May 22, 2007.

The work, as approved, consists of the construction of two (2) one-story brick-clad penthouses, with the northern
penthouse to have a set of aluminum framed sliding glass doors with sidelights at the north elevation, and a
chimney and three skylights at the roof; and the southern penthouse to have a one-over-one double hung window
with a concrete lintel at the west elevation, a set of aluminum framed sliding glass doors with sidelights at the
south elevation, and a chimney at the roof. The approved work also includes installation of seven (7) new HVAC
units at the northeastern corner of the roof, which will be mounted on steel dunnage and enclosed by an acoustical
barrier; installation of a new boiler flue attached to the west courtyard elevation; removal of an existing fire
escape and a boiler flue bridge at the west courtyard elevation; and interior alterations at the cellar through the
eighth floor, including construction of new partitions, installation of new plumbing fixtures, mechanical work,
and installation of new finishes. The approved work was shown on presentation boards consisting of, drawings,
photographs, and photo-montages, labeled IM-1, through IM-17, EX-1 through EX-5, and P-1 through P-10,
dated February 8, 2006, prepared by Meltzer/Costa Architects, and presented at the public hearing.

In reviewing this application, the Commission notes that the designation report describes 31 West 11th Street is a
neo-Classical style apartment building designed by Browne and Almiroty and built in 1910; and that the
building's style, scale, materials, and details contribute to the special architectural and historic character of the
Greenwich Village Historic District

With regard to this proposal, the Commission found that that the proposed work will not cause damage to any
significant features of the building; that the proposed rooftop addition, chimneys and the roof-mounted HVAC
equipment will only be visible in conjunction with other buildings and utilitarian rooftop features at acute angles
to the front facade, minimizing their impact upon the skyline and the significant protected features of the
building; that the proposed rooftop addition on the north portion of the roof will only be visible looking between
existing buildings from Fifth Avenue in an area where the front façade is not visible; that the simple massing,
brick masonry finish, and details of the proposed additions will not draw undue attention to themselves, or call
attention away from the main facade; that the one-over-one double-hung window on the west elevation will blend
in with the existing fenestration pattern; and that for these reasons the proposed alterations are in keeping with the
building, the streetscape, and the Greenwich Village Historic District.

The Commission authorized the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness upon receipt, review and approval of
two sets of signed and sealed Department of Building filing drawings showing the approved design.

Subsequently, on August 14, 2007, the Landmarks Preservation Commission received final architectural
drawings labeled A-1 through A-21, dated July 2, 2007, and prepared by Harry Meltzer, R.A.; mechanical
drawings labeled M0-1, DM1-1, M1-1 through M1-10, M2-1, M3.1, M3.2, M3.3, M4-1 through M4-4, P0-1,
P1-1 through P1-10, P2-1, P2-3, and P3-1, dated 5/16/07, and prepared by Imtiaz Mulla, P.E.; and drawings
labeled S-001, S-010, S-100, S-101, S102, S-108, S-109, S-110, S-401, and S-402, dated 11/3/06, prepared by
Stephen DeSimone, P.E. Accordingly, staff reviewed these materials and noted that they include changes to the
design of the southern penthouse, including removal of the proposed one-over one window at the west elevation,
in place of the set of aluminum framed sliding glass doors, a set of folding glass doors extends along the entire
length of the southern elevation; a sliding glass door at the corner of the west elevation and a single-paned fixed
window at the corner of the east elevation have both been added; and the brick chimney has been eliminated, and
instead a chimney flue will penetrate the roof of the penthouse. In addition, work at the parapet, including
removal and replacement of sheet metal grilles at the parapet; and exterior work at east and west courtyard
elevations, including bricking-in select window openings has been added to the scope of the project. With regard
to this additional work, staff found that replacing the sheet metal grilles will not damage or destroy any historic
features of the building; that the removal of the one-over-one window at the west wall of the south penthouse will
not diminish the historic features of the building; that the additional glass doors and windows added at the south,
west, and east elevations of the south penthouse, the new chimney flu, and the windows that are proposed to be
bricked in, will not be visible from any public thoroughfare; and that the windows proposed to be bricked in are
not special windows as defined by the Rules. Additionally, staff found that the overall design approved by the
Commission has been maintained. Based on these and the above findings, the drawings have been marked
approved with a perforated seal, and Certificate of Appropriateness 08-2478 is being issued.

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 Andria Darby.




PAGE 2
Issued: 8/23/07
DOCKET: 08-1646
Robert B. Tierney
Chair

PLEASE NOTE: PERFORATED DRAWINGS AND A COPY OF THIS PERMIT HAVE BEEN SENT TO:
Cas Stachelberg, Higgins Quasebarth & Partners LLC

cc: Cas Stachelberg; Caroline Kane Levy, Deputy Director of Preservation




PAGE 3
Issued: 8/23/07
DOCKET: 08-1646

Added to EveryBlock on January 16, 2008.

Other landmark building permits nearby