Landmark permit issued for 402-404 WEST 13TH STREET, MANHATTAN in Gansevoort Market

Landmark building permit details

Location 402-404 WEST 13TH STREET, MANHATTAN
Issue date February 26, 2008
COFA COFA 08-7565
Docket 08-3015
Historic district Gansevoort Market
Landmark name N/A
Expiration date September 18, 2013
Text ISSUED TO:
Darryl Romanoff
Romanoff Equities
833 Washington Street
New York, NY 10014


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 18, 2007, following the Public Meeting of August 7, 2007 and
the Public Hearing of July 24, 2007, voted to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness for the proposed work at the
subject premises, as put forward in your application completed July 12, 2007, and as you were informed in Status
Update Letter 08-3277 (LPC 07-8692), issued September 20, 2007.

The proposed work, as approved, consists of demolishing an existing two-story building and constructing a new
five-story building, featuring terra cotta and brick front and lot line facades; stucco clad facades at the rear
portion of the building and the rooftop bulkhead; aluminum fixed and hopper windows; horizontal metal window
rails; clear glass ground floor infill; a metal door and side panel; a ground floor metal canopy with hanging
lighting and signage; and a metal roof railing. The proposal, as initially presented to the Commission, included
shorter floor heights and narrower piers; a narrower canopy, extending only over the ground floor glass infill; a
lower canopy placement; single pane windows, without the hopper windows and window rails; different lot line
window sizes; a different roof railing design; and sections of parapets, instead of roof railings at the lot line
facades.

The approved work was shown in material and finish samples and presentation boards, labeled H-1, H-2, H-2A,
H-3, H-4, E-1, E-2, E-3, A-1, A-2, A-3, A-3a, A-4, A-4a, A-5, A-6, A-7, V-1, V-2, V-3, V-4 and V-5, dated
August 30, 2007 and consisting of drawings, photographs, and photo montages; and the initial proposal was
shown on presentation boards, labeled H-1, H-2, H-2A, H-3, H-4, E-1, E-2, E-3, A-1, A-2, A-3, A-3a, A-4, A-4a,
A-5, A-6, A-7, V-1, V-2, V-3, V-4 and V-5, dated July 19, 2007 and consisting of drawings, photographs, and
photo montages, all prepared by Pasanella & Klein Stolzman & Berg, Architects, PC, and presented at the Public
Hearing and Public Meetings.
In reviewing this proposal, the Commission noted that the Gansevoort Market Historic District describes 402-404
West 13th Street as two buildings originally built circa 1846-1847, and altered and combined in 1950.

With regard to this proposal, the Commission found that the existing building does not contribute to the historic
district and its demolition will not detract from the special historic and architectural character of the historic
district; that the overall height and massing of the proposed building will be harmonious with the variety of
building heights and massings found throughout this streetscape; that the materials and finishes of the proposed
building will be in keeping with materials and finishes throughout the streetscape; that the details and finishes of
the proposed terra cotta panels and brickwork will be well related to the mix of materials, details and finishes
throughout the streetscape and will evoke, in a contemporary manner, the historic interplay of materials, textures
and finishes throughout this district; that the floor to ceiling heights of the new building will be proportional to
those found at the adjoining buildings, and will support a relationship between the new building and its
neighbors; that the simple detailing of the building will be in keeping with the industrial character of the
streetscape and historic district; that the size and articulation of the proposed windows will be harmonious with
the scale and distinctive mix of fenestration patterns throughout the streetscape; that the proposed glazed ground
floor infill, simply-designed, metal door and side panels and metal canopy will recall the open loading docks,
service entrances, and canopies of warehouses and market buildings, historically found throughout the district;
that the proposed signage, consisting of hanging signs at the canopy, will be well scaled with the building, typical
in placement, and in keeping with the character of signage historically found throughout the district; that the light
fixtures will be limited in number, well scaled to the building and discreetly located beneath the canopy and
above the door and side panel, thereby not drawing undue attention to themselves; that the proposed lot line
windows will be in keeping with the typical scale and placement of lot line windows found throughout the
historic district; that the rear and side facades of the building, as seen from 9th Avenue and 12th Street, will be
simple in design and well-scaled to the context in which they are seen, thereby maintaining a subordinate role
within these streetscapes; and that the new building will reinforce the special architectural and historic character
of the Gansevoort Market Historic District. Based on these findings, the Commission determined the work to be
appropriate to the building and the historic district and voted to approve the application.

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 February 14, 2008 and February 25, 2008, the Commission received written specifications,
dated February 22, 2008; drawings Title Sheet, A000, G-001, Z-000, D001, D101, D102, A101, A102, A205,
A206, A401, A402, A403, A404, A405, A501, A502, A503, A601, A701, A702, A801 and A802, dated revised
February 14, 2008; and drawings A103, A201, A202, A203 and A204, dated February 22, 2008 and prepared by
Sherida E. Paulsen, RA.

Accordingly, staff reviewed these materials and noted that they include modifications to the proposed design of
the ground floor. The changes include installing the central display windows, with equal tri-partite divisions,
instead of a wider center display window with two narrower side windows; installing a continuous band of grilles,
divided into tripartite sections by thin metal framing, at the transom level, instead of three grilles, divided by
wider terra cotta panels; and installing paired doors, featuring a pairing of a wider door and a narrower door,
instead of doors of matching widths. Additionally, sidewalk replacement; the installation of uplights at the roof
paving and changes to the proposed rooftop bulkhead, including adding a louver to the eastern facade and
widening its footprint by seven inches, are also included on the drawings. With regard to this work, staff found
that the configuration of the proposed ground floor infill will be well integrated into the overall building design;
that the ground floor infill, featuring a large central glazed area, will recall the open loading docks and service
entrances of warehouses and market buildings, historically found throughout the district; that the removal of the
existing concrete sidewalk paving will not eliminate any significant features of the streetscape; that the proposed
paving, scored in a standard rectilinear pattern, will be harmonious with the adjoining paving; that the proposed
light fixtures at the roof paving will not be visible from any public thoroughfares; that the presence of a louver at
the bulkhead will be in keeping with the industrial character of the building and historic district; that the simple
design of the louver will not draw undue attention to the installation; and that the changes to the bulkhead
dimensions will be barely perceptible. Additionally, staff found that the design approved by the Commission has
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Issued: 2/26/08
DOCKET: 08-3015
been maintained. Based on these and the above findings, the drawings have been marked approved with a
perforated seal, and Certificate of Appropriateness 08-3015 is being issued.

PLEASE NOTE: As the approved work consists of subsurface work, the applicant is required to strictly adhere to
the Department of Buildings' TPPN 10/88 governing in-ground construction adjacent to historic buildings. It is
the applicant's obligation at the time of applying for their DOB permit to inform DOB that the TPPN applies.

This permit is contingent on the pointing and sidewalk work being performed when the temperature remains a
constant 45 degrees Fahrenheit or above for a 72 hour period from the commencement of the work, as well as the
Commission's review and approval of all supplemental filing drawings, including mechanical, HVAC and
plumbing drawings; a sidewalk paving plan and related specifications; and field samples of the proposed terra
cotta panels, brickwork, mortar and finishes, all prior to the commencement of construction. Promptly forward
the plan and specifications to the Commission staff and contact the staff to schedule a site visit for the material
samples as soon as they are available.

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 Bernadette Artus.




Robert B. Tierney
Chair

PLEASE NOTE: PERFORATED DRAWINGS AND A COPY OF THIS PERMIT HAVE BEEN SENT TO:
Steven Morales, Pasanella & Klein Stolzman & Berg

cc: Caroline Kane Levy, Deputy Director of Preservation/LPC




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Issued: 2/26/08
DOCKET: 08-3015

Added to EveryBlock on March 28, 2008.

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