Landmark permit issued for 427 AMSTERDAM AVENUE, MANHATTAN in UPPER WEST SIDE-CPW

Landmark building permit details

Location 427 AMSTERDAM AVENUE, MANHATTAN
Issue date August 8, 2007
(?) COFA COFA 08-1662

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 07-3948
Historic district Upper West Side - CPW
Landmark name N/A
Expiration date August 8, 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 August 7, 2007, following the Public Hearing and Public Meeting of July
24, 2007, voted to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness for the proposed work at the subject premises, as put
forth in your application completed on July 19, 2007.

The proposal, as approved, consists of the removal of the existing modern storefront infill, and the installation of
new storefront infill, set back from the historic cast stone cladding on the front façade, with black-finished metal
used to clad the reveals and the storefront framing, and stucco finished in off-white used to clad the recessed
façade above the display windows and a column between the entrance and a large display window; the
installation of an illuminated menu box secured to the column: and a retractable awning clad in dark gray canvas.
The proposal, as initially presented, included stucco cladding at the reveals and clear-finished aluminum for the
storefront framing. The proposal was shown in a map of the historic district, photographs of the existing
conditions, and a photograph of the proposed illuminated menu box, an historic photograph, an elevation, a plan,
and a section of the proposed storefront, a sample of the clear finished aluminum on July 24th, and a sample of
the black-finished metal from August 7th, samples of the stucco, and the awning material seen on both dates, and
rendered elevations, all prepared and presented at the Public Hearing and the Public Meetings by Hoy Shing
Look and Design and Construction Resource, LLC.

In reviewing this proposal, the Commission noted that the Upper West Side/Central park West Historic District
Designation Report describes 427 Amsterdam Avenue as a one-story style commercial building built in 1937; and
that the buildings scale and materials are among the features that contribute to the special architectural and
historic character of the Upper West Side /Central Park West Historic District. The Commission also noted that
the storefront in place at the time of designation was a modern storefront; that Certificate of No Effect 05-3473,
was issued on November 10, 2004 for the removal of the modern storefront, restoration of the cast stone
surround, and the installation of new storefront infill based on the storefront in the historic photograph; that
Violation V-06-0433 was issued on February 26, 2006, for the "Installation of sign and awning in noncompliance
with Certificate of No Effect 06-4864"; and that this permit is being issued based on the applicant's intention to
perform work to correct this violation pursuant to Landmarks Preservation Commission Certificate of No Effect
07-6259, issued on February 26, 2007 for restorative work, cleaning and patching the cast stone surround, as
evidenced by the escrow agreement dated June 20, 2007, between Swee Phuah, DCR LLC, as owner, and M.
Chen at J. P. Morgan Chase, as escrow agent.

With regard to this proposal, the Commission found that removing the existing modern storefront infill will not
eliminate any significant historic fabric from the building; that the proposed contemporary storefront design will
be in keeping with the character of this one-story commercial building and the Amsterdam Avenue streetscape;
that the new storefront elements have been simply designed in a manner which will not compete with the historic
cast stone surround; that the proposed menu box is well scaled and sensitively placed on the facade; and that the
work will not detract from the special character of the building or the historic district. Based on these findings,
the Commission determined the proposed work to be appropriate to the building, and voted to approve it.

Staff received two copies of drawing A-1, dated August 7, 2007, prepared and submitted by Hoy Shing Look and
Design and Construction Resource, LLC. Staff has reviewed this drawing and finds that the proposal approved by
the Commission has been maintained. Based on this and the approved findings, the drawings are being marked
approved with a perforated seal, and Certificate of Appropriateness 08-1662 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 John Graham.




Robert B. Tierney
Chair

PLEASE NOTE: PERFORATED DRAWINGS AND A COPY OF THIS PERMIT HAVE BEEN SENT TO:




PAGE 2
Issued: 8/8/07
DOCKET: 07-3948

Added to EveryBlock on January 16, 2008.

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