Landmark permit issued for 28 EAST 78TH STREET, MANHATTAN in Metropolitan Museum

Landmark building permit details

Location 28 EAST 78TH STREET, MANHATTAN
Issue date March 6, 2008
COFA COFA 08-7610
Docket 07-1872
Historic district Metropolitan Museum
Landmark name N/A
Expiration date October 16, 2013
Text ISSUED TO:
Sam Trimble, Agent
28 East 78th Street, LLC
28 East 78th Street
New York, NY 10021


Pursuant to Section 25-307 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York, the Landmarks Preservation
Commission, at the Public Meeting of of October 16, 2007, following the Public Hearing and Public Meeting of
January 23, 2007, and the Public Meeting of July 17, 2007, voted to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness for the
proposed work at the subject premises, as put forth in your application completed on January 3, 2007.

The proposal, as approved, consists of the construction of the demolition of an existing modern roof bulkhead and
roof-mounted HVAC equipment, and the construction of a roof-top addition, with an elevator and stair bulkhead
on the west side of the roof, an occupiable room in the center of the roof, and new HVAC equipment on the east
side of the room, all set behind existing iron railings in place at the time of designation, all as shown in drawings
titled "Existing Conditions", "Current Proposal", "Previous Proposal Presented to LPC on 7/17/07", "Elevations,
Current Proposal", "Elevations, Previous Proposal, July 17, 2007", and "Roof Plans", all dated October 16, 2007,
which included photographs and photo-montages, all prepared and presented at the Public Hearing and the Public
Meeting by Sam Trimble Design, Inc. As presented on January 23, and July 17, 2007, the proposal, for a taller
addition with a larger footprint, was shown in drawings titled "Original McKim Mead and White Drawing, 1900,
East, North, and West Elevations", "Existing East, North, and West Elevations", "Proposed East, North, and West
Elevations", "Roof Plan, Original McKim, Mead and White Drawing, Existing Roof Plan, Proposed Roof Plan",
and in photographs, all dated January 4, 2007, and in modified drawings, titled "Proposed East, North, West
Elevations", " Roof Plan, Original McKim, Mead and White Drawing, Existing Roof Plan, 2005, Proposed Roof
Plan 1/23/07, Proposed Roof Plan 7/17/07" and in photographs dated July 17, 2007.

In reviewing this proposal, the Commission noted that the Metropolitan Museum Historic District Designation
Report describes 28 East 78th Street as a neo-Georgian style mansion designed by McKim, Mead and White and
built in 1901-1902; and that the building's style, scale, materials, and details are among the features which
contribute to the special architectural and historic character of the Metropolitan Museum Historic District.


The Commission also noted that the building originally featured a copper-clad roof bulkhead; and that the
existing roof bulkhead is a modern addition constructed prior to designation.


With regard to this proposal, the Commission found that that removing the existing roof modern bulkhead and
replacing the existing mechanical equipment with new mechanical equipment with a smaller foortprint and
reduced height at the new addition will restore the roofline to a more consistent and cohesive appearance, without
removing any significant historic fabric; that the design of the proposed rooftop addition will recall the original
copper clad bulkhead in terms of shape, profile and materials; that the simple profile and uniform height of the
proposed bulkhead will ensure that the addition does not draw attention away from the historic facade; that the
reduced mass of the revised roof bulkhead, similar in size and height to the existing mechanical space, will not
overwhelm the historic mansard roof and historic facades directly below; that the black-painted multi-light
windows on the new bulkhead will relate well to the historic black-painted multi-light windows on the lower
floors; and that for these reasons the proposed work will not diminish the special architectural or historic
character of the building, the streetscape, or the Metropolitan Museum Historic District. Based on these findings,
the Commission determined the proposed work to be appropriate to the building, and voted to approve it.


However, in voting to grant this approval, the Commission made its determination subject to the condition that
two sets of signed and sealed Department of Building filing drawings showing the approved design be submitted
to the Commission for review.


On February 18, 2008, the Commission received the required sets of signed and sealed drawings, A000, dated
January 25, 2008, A103, A104, A301, A303, A304, A305, and A306, all dated December 17, 2007, prepared and
submitted by Sam Trimble Design, Inc. Staff has reviewed these materials and finds that the proposal approved
by the Commission has been maintained. Based on this and the approved findings, Certificate of Appropriateness
08-7610 is being issued.

The approved work is limited to that described above. Please salvage and clean samples of the existing brick and
mortar, prepare three sample patches showing the proposed brick and mortar, and notify the Commission to
arrange for an inspection of the proposed materials to determine if the size, color, texture, and bond pattern, and
the color, texture, and tooling of the mortar, match the originals, prior to completing the final phases of the facade
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 John Graham.
PAGE 2
Issued: 3/6/08
DOCKET: 07-1872
Robert B. Tierney
Chair

PLEASE NOTE: PERFORATED DRAWINGS AND A COPY OF THIS PERMIT HAVE BEEN SENT TO:
Daniel Spiegel, Expedia Building Solutions

cc: Expedia Building Solutions, attn: Daniel Spiegel




PAGE 3
Issued: 3/6/08
DOCKET: 07-1872

Added to EveryBlock on March 28, 2008.