Landmark permit issued for 640 BROADWAY, MANHATTAN in Noho

Landmark building permit details

Location 640 BROADWAY, MANHATTAN
Issue date February 20, 2008
(?) COFA COFA 08-7379

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 08-6178
Historic district Noho
Landmark name N/A
Expiration date November 27, 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 November 27, 2007, 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 November 1, 2007. This permit will expire on November 27, 2013.

The work, as approved, consists of installing a new black painted iron areaway stair railing on a concrete curb
and gate at the Bleecker Street facade. This work was shown in photo boards and drawings 1 through 4, dated
October 29, 2007, prepared by Bone/Levine Architects, and submitted as components of the application, and
presented at the Public Hearing and Public Meeting.

In reviewing this application, the Commission noted that the designation report describes 640 Broadway as a
Classical Revival style office building designed by DeLemos & Cordes and built in 1896-97. The Commission
also noted that Notice of Violation (NOV) 03-0744 was issued February 27, 2004, for "Alterations to sidewalk,
creation of a cellar entrance and installation of a fence without permit(s);" that Commission Denial 05-3443 (LPC
03-7567) was issued November 15, 2004, for "legalization of an egress stair built in the sidewalk;" and that
Notice of Violation (NOV) 02-0415 was issued March 20, 2003, for the "Removal of sections of sidewalk and
vault covers at Bleecker Street without permit(s)." The Commission also noted that prior to designation, the
Department of Buildings approved the construction of a sidewalk stair in the location proposed along Bleecker
Street; that a sidewalk stair was constructed in a different location closer to the corner of Broadway; and that the
Commission voted to deny an application to legalize the stair in its present location.

With regard to the construction of the proposal, the Commission found that the removal of the existing stair, gate,
and railing will not result in damage to any significant architectural features of the building or the historic district;
that the height, scale, placement and simple utilitarian design of the proposed railing will be in keeping with
historic areaway iron-work often found at buildings of this type, style and age; that the simple design of the
proposed railing will not call undue attention to itself or detract from the streetscape; and that the installation of
the new railing and gate will not result in damage to any significant architectural features of the building. Based
on these findings, the Commission determined that the work is appropriate to the building and to the historic
district, and voted to approve it.

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 February 19, 2008, the staff of the Commission received drawings 1 and 2, dated September 19,
2007; prepared by Kevin Bone, R.A. The Commission reviewed the submitted drawings and found that the
proposal approved by the Commission has been maintained. Therefore, these drawings are being marked
approved by the Commission with a perforated seal, and Certificate of Appropriateness (CofA) 08-7270 is being
issued.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PERMIT CONTAINS A COMPLIANCE DATE OF May 31, 2007.

NOV 03-0744, will be rescinded when the work approved under this Certificate of Appropriateness has been
completed. 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.

If you do not complete the work by this date, a Notice of Violation (NOV) originating from the Environmental
Control Board may be issued in accordance with Title 63 of the Rules of the City of New York, Section 7-02(c).
This NOV would require a court appearance and a civil fine may be imposed.

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.




Robert B. Tierney
Chair

PLEASE NOTE: PERFORATED DRAWINGS AND A COPY OF THIS PERMIT HAVE BEEN SENT TO:
Daniel Braff, Blank Rome LLP

cc: Daniel Braff; Sarah Carroll, Director of Preservation; William Neeeley, Deputy Director of Preservation;
Diane Simonson, Violation Officer


PAGE 2
Issued: 2/20/08
DOCKET: 08-6178

Added to EveryBlock on March 28, 2008.

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