Landmark building permit details
| Location | 56 CHARLES STREET, MANHATTAN |
|---|---|
| Issue date | February 26, 2008 |
| (?) COFA | COFA 08-7564 |
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 | 08-5588 |
| Historic district | Greenwich Village |
| Landmark name | N/A |
| Expiration date | January 15, 2014 |
| 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 January 15, 2008, following the Public Hearing and Public Meeting of December 11, 2007, voted to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness for the proposed work at the subject premises, as put forward in your application completed November 15, 2007, and as you were informed in Status Update Letter 08-6435 (LPC 07-3622), issued January 16, 2008. The proposed work, as approved, consists of constructing a four-story (full-height) rear addition, extending 8' into the rear yard and featuring a brickwork facade; masonry lintels and sills; six-over-six, double-hung windows at the second and third floors; multi-light windows and doors separated by masonry piers at the parlor floor level; and a center window and multi-light doors, separated by masonry piers at the basement level. The approved work also includes excavating a portion of the rear yard, adjoining the addition, and installing a parlor floor level rear porch and a metal roof railing. The proposal, as initially presented to the Commission, included a large single masonry opening at the parlor floor of the rear addition and a wood roof railing. The work was shown on eight presentation boards, including three boards labeled A-LPC2, A-LPC3, and A-LPC4 and dated June 28, 2007; one board, labeled A-LPC1A and dated October 17, 2007; and four boards, labeled L5, L6, L7 and L8 by the Commission staff and dated (presented) December 11, 2007 and January 15, 2008, and consisting of drawings, photographs, and photo montages, all prepared by Gendell Architecture and presented at the Public Hearing and Public Meetings. In reviewing this proposal, the Commission noted that the Greenwich Village Historic District Designation Report describes 56 Charles Street as a Greek Revival style rowhouse built in 1839-1840; and that the building's style, scale, materials and details are among the features that contribute to the special architectural and historic character of the Greenwich Village Historic District. The Commission also noted that Warning Letter 07-0551 was issued June 15, 2007 for the "replacement of windows without permit(s)." With regard to this proposal, the Commission found that the existing rear wall is not original to the building and was not constructed in the plane of the original rear wall, therefore its removal will not eliminate any original features of the building or references to the building's original massing; that the existing rear wall does not include significant features and does not relate well to neighboring properties, therefore its removal will not detract from the building or row; that the proposed addition and porch will not eliminate the presence of a rear yard or disrupt a continuous expanse of open space; that the neighboring buildings at both sides of the property already feature reconstructed rear facades, and therefore, the addition will not disrupt a unified row; that the proposed addition will align with the building to its east, will only project 10 feet in front of the building to the west, and will be over 18 feet away from the back house on the adjacent property, and therefore, will not have significant impact on the adjacent buildings or central greenspace; that the design of the addition, including brickwork, the regularization of masonry openings at the upper floors, and the alignment of the new rear wall with the adjoining property will relate well and be harmonious in scale to the adjoining rear facades of neighboring buildings, as seen from 7th Avenue South and West 10th Street; that the use of brickwork, regularization of the upper floor masonry openings, and installation of multi-light, double-hung windows, will help return the rear façade of the building closer to the character of a Greek Revival rowhouse; that the lower portion of the rear addition will not be visible from any public thoroughfares; that the scale of the openings at the lower floors, in conjunction with the fenestration pattern, will maintain the residential character of the building; that the limited amount of excavation at the rear yard will not alter the perceived scale of the building or detract from the relationship of the rear yard to the neighboring properties; and that the proposed work will not diminish the special architectural and historic character of the 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, with the stipulation that a simply-designed, metal railing, set back further from the rear facade, be utilized, instead of the proposed wood railings. 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, including the required change. Subsequently, on January 25, 2008 and February 8, 2008, the Commission received written specifications, dated received February 8, 2008; drawings A-G, A-0, A-1, A-3, A-5, A-7, A-9, A-11, A-11B, A-11C, and A-11D, dated July 2, 2007; drawings A-2, A-4, A-6, A-8, and A-10, dated December 18, 2005; drawings A-12, A-12A and A-11A, dated September 25, 2007; drawing A-11D, dated January 21, 2008; drawing A-14, dated March 10, 2006; and drawing A-20, dated September 24, 2007 and prepared by Stanley Gendell, RA. Accordingly, staff reviewed these materials and noted that they include additional work, consisting of the installation of a roof vent, as well as interior alterations throughout the building. With regard to this work, staff found that the roof vent will not eliminate, alter or conceal any significant features of the building and will not be visible from any public thoroughfare. Additionally, staff found that the design approved by the Commission has been maintained and the change to the roof railing required by the Commission has been included. Based on these and the above findings, the drawings have been marked approved with a perforated seal, and Certificate of Appropriateness 08-7564 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. Please also note that this permit is issued contingent on the brickwork being performed when the temperature remains a constant 45 degrees Fahrenheit or above for a 72 hour period from the commencement of the work; and upon the Commission's review and approval of test samples of brickwork, mortar, paint (window finish), and cast stone prior to the commencement of the work. Please contact the Landmarks Preservation Commission staff when the samples are ready in order to arrange a site visit. Additionally, Warning Letter 07-0551 remains in force and is not addressed by this. Failure to resolve this matter PAGE 2 Issued: 2/26/08 DOCKET: 08-5588 may result in the issuance of a Notice of Violation (NOV) originating from the Environmental Control Board in accordance with Title 63 of the Rules of the City of New York, Section 7-02 (c). 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: Stanley Gendell cc: Caroline Kane Levy, Deputy Director of Preservation/LPC; Diane Simonson, Compliance Officer/LPC PAGE 3 Issued: 2/26/08 DOCKET: 08-5588 |
Added to EveryBlock on March 28, 2008.
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