Landmark permit issued for 6 EAST 78TH STREET, MANHATTAN in METROPOLITAN MUSEUM
Landmark building permit details
| Location | 6 EAST 78TH STREET, MANHATTAN |
|---|---|
| Issue date | January 8, 2008 |
| (?) COFA | COFA 08-6133 |
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. |
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| Docket | 08-4983 |
| Historic district | Metropolitan Museum |
| Landmark name | N/A |
| Expiration date | September 25, 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 September 25, 2007, following the Public Hearing of the same date, voted to approve a proposal for work at the subject premises, as put forward in your application completed on August 29, 2007, and as you were informed in Status Update Letter 08-3551, issued on September 28, 2007 (LPC 08-1652). This approval will expire September 25, 2013. The proposed work, as approved, consists of removing the masonry wall and windows at the 5th floor at the north façade setback facing East 78th Street and installing a new wall with metal cladding and new glazing with sliding glass doors; removing the south facade and portions of the existing rear yard extensions and constructing a new full-height rear yard addition with metal cladding and new glazing with fixed and operable single and double height openings at the secondary rear facade; modifying the east facade by removing the exterior walls at the 2nd and 3rd floors to create a rooftop terrace with glass railing, and reconstructing the exterior walls at the basement and 1st floor with new brick masonry and glazed openings, at the existing rear yard extensions; excavating a portion of the rear yard at the cellar level and creating a light well opening at grade at the rear yard. The proposal was shown in historic photographs and existing condition photographs, photo montages and revised drawings dated 8/23/07, prepared by Schwartz Architects, submitted as components of the application and presented at the Public Hearing and Public Meeting. In reviewing this proposal, the Commission noted that the Metropolitan Museum Historic District Designation Report describes 6 East 78th Street as a townhouse originally designed by Alfred Zucker and built in 1887-89 and redesigned in the French neo-Classical style by John Duncan in 1913-14; and that in terms of its style, scale, materials, and details, it contributes to the special architectural and historic character for which the Metropolitan Museum Historic District was designated. The Commission also noted that the existing rooftop and rear yard additions were constructed prior to designation. With regard to this proposal, the Commission found that the alterations at the penthouse, that the roof of the building, including the existing penthouse, has no significant architectural features which would be lost or damaged as a result of the alterations; that the penthouse is not visible in conjunction with the primary East 78th Street elevation when viewed from directly across the street, and therefore will have no effect on the significant architectural features of the building; and, that only the metal cladding, and not the glazing, will be visible from a limited view shed from one side of East 78th Street over a secondary elevation, in the context of other buildings beyond; that the assemblage of heavily altered rear extensions has no significant architectural features which would be lost or damaged as a result of the work; that the proposed work will return the rear of the building to a massing more in keeping with the scale and character of an individual townhouse; that the proposed work will significantly reduce the total volume of rear additions, and therefore increase the block's central green space; that the proposed rear yard addition will not be visible from any public thoroughfare; that the building does not belong to a contiguous row is adjacent to other large rear yard additions and currently features a partial addition at the top floor, therefore, the full-height addition will not significantly alter the scale of the building or diminish its relationship to the adjacent building; that the articulation of the proposed addition is in keeping with the scale of the townhouse; and, that the glazing is divided with heavy mullions that introduce rhythm and detail to the fenestration of the rear façade. Based on these findings, the Commission determined the proposed work to be appropriate to the building and the historic district, and voted to approve this application. However, in voting to grant this approval, the Commission stipulated that a set of unmounted copies of the presentation drawings and two final signed and sealed copies of the Department of Buildings filing drawings for the approved work be submitted to the staff of the Commission for review and approval. Subsequently, on July 26, 2007, the Landmarks Preservation Commission received final drawings A0.01, A0.02, A1.11 through A1.14, A2.11 through A2.14, A3.01, A3.02, A3.03, A3.11, A3.12, A5.80, A5.81 and A5.82, issued 12/10/07, drawings R2.00, R3.00, R3.01, R3.02, R3.03, R4.00, R4.01 and R7.00, issued 8/9/07, prepared by Schwartz Architects, and Exterior Restoration Specifications report, dated 8/3/07, and Existing Conditions report, dated 8/7/07, prepared by Li-Saltzman Architects, PC. Staff reviewed the drawings and found that the work approved by the Commission has been maintained. The work also includes removing the existing elevator bulkhead and mechanical equipment and installing new stair and elevator bulkheads, skylights and condensing units at the rooftop and installing new wood decking at the 4th floor terrace facing East 78th Street; removing two (2) four-over-four double-hung dormer window sashes and frames and installing new wood windows, frames and molding with a tan finish (Benjamin Moore HC-81) at the 4th floor at the 78th Street façade; removing two (2) four-over-four double-hung dormer window sashes and sills, and five (5) paired multi-light casement window sashes with transoms and sills, and installing new wood window sashes, transoms and sills with a tan finish (Benjamin Moore HC-81) within the existing frames and molding to be restored; removing operable windows and modern framing and molding and installing new metal framing with fixed glazing and new molding within the existing opening to match existing doors, frames and molding, and salvaging and reinstalling the original fixed metalwork grille, at the 78th Street façade; repairing three (3) original exterior metal doors and framing with original fixed metalwork grilles as required and installing new molding at the 78th Street façade; replacing the deteriorated marble door surround in kind at the central paired entrance doors at the 78th Street façade; repointing deteriorated limestone, granite, marble and brick masonry joints at designated locations at the 78th Street façade and side returns; repairing deteriorated limestone ashlars and ornament at designated locations with cementitious patching mortar (Jahn M70) at the 78th Street façade and side returns; cleaning stone and brick masonry and stripping paint and graffiti as required with alkaline cleaners and strippers (Prosoco) at the 78th Street façade and side returns; replacing the deteriorated copper cornice in kind at the 78th Street façade; removing and salvaging the limestone balustrade, repairing with cementitious patching mortar (Jahn M70) or grout, and reinstalling salvaged stone units or replacing deteriorated stone units in kind as required at the mansard roof at the 78th Street façade; removing and salvaging the slate tiles, installing new flashing and substrates, and reinstalling salvaged slates or replacing deteriorated slates in kind as required; replacing the deteriorated copper cladding in kind at dormer window side returns at the mansard roof at the 78th Street façade; repairing the copper cresting as required at the mansard roof at the 78th Street façade; and interior alterations at the cellar, basement, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th floors. With regard to this additional work, staff finds, in accordance with the provisions set forth in Title 63 of the Rules of the City of New York, Section 2-19, that the rooftop addition will consist solely PAGE 2 Issued: 1/8/08 DOCKET: 08-4983 of mechanical equipment; that its installation will not result in damage to, or demolition of a significant architectural feature of the roof; that it will not be visible from a public thoroughfare; and that it will not adversely affect significant architectural features of adjacent improvements. Staff also finds, in accordance with Section 3-04, that the new windows at the primary façade will match the historic windows in terms of configuration, operation, details, material and finish. Finally, staff finds that any new brick or stone will match the existing in terms of size, color, texture and coursing, and that the new mortar will match the historic mortar in strength, color, texture, and tooling; that the cleaning of the primary façade and side returns will be done in the gentlest effective method without causing damage to the masonry; and that the work at the primary façade will aid in the long term preservation of the building. Based on this and the above findings, the drawings are marked approved with a perforated seal, and Certificate of Appropriateness 08-0978 is being issued. This permit is contingent upon the Commission's review and approval of samples of stone and brick patching mortar, pointing mortar and replacement units, façade cleaning, and slate replacement units prior to the commencement of work. Please contact Cory Herrala to schedule a site visit once samples are available for review. This permit is also contingent on the understanding that the work will be performed by hand and when the temperature remains a constant 45 degrees Fahrenheit or above for a 72 hour period from the commencement of the work. 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 Cory Scott Herrala. Robert B. Tierney Chair PLEASE NOTE: PERFORATED DRAWINGS AND A COPY OF THIS PERMIT HAVE BEEN SENT TO: Rita Nepogoda, Aston Architecture, PC cc: Sarah Carroll/LPC- Director of Preservation PAGE 3 Issued: 1/8/08 DOCKET: 08-4983 |
Added to EveryBlock on February 1, 2008.