Landmark permit issued for 32-34 GREENE STREET, MANHATTAN in Soho - Cast Iron

Landmark building permit details

Location 32-34 GREENE STREET, MANHATTAN
Issue date April 18, 2008
(?) COFA COFA 08-8749

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 08-6461
Historic district Soho - Cast Iron
Landmark name N/A
Expiration date March 14, 2012
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 October 23, 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 September
27, 2007, and as you were informed in the Status Update Letter issued on October 23, 2007 (SUL 08-4260, LPC
08-1785). This approval will expire on October 23, 2013.

The proposed work, as approved, consists of amending Certificate of Appropriateness 06-7572 to include
replacing the existing cast iron vault light steps at each retail entrance with new cast iron vault light steps;
removing the existing metal fire escapes from the front façades; and replacing the wood and metal infill at the
northernmost bay of the first floor with new wood and glass infill consisting of a single door and glazed
transoms; as shown drawings LPC001 through LPC027, including LPC003b, LPC004b, and LPC004c dated
October 9, 2007, all submitted as components of the application and presented at the Public Meeting and Public
Hearing.

In reviewing this proposal, the Commission noted that the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District Designation Report
describes 32-34 Greene Street as a store and storehouse building designed by J.F. Duckworth and built in 1873,
and a store building designed by Charles Wright and built in 1873; and that in terms of style, scale, materials, and
details, the buildings contribute to the special architectural and historic character for which the SoHo-Cast Iron
Historic District was designated. The Commission further noted that Certificate of Appropriateness 06-7572
(LPC 06-6144) was issued on April 24, 2006 for installing new wood and glass storefront infill with signage
painted on the glass display windows, temporarily removing, storing and reinstalling the existing historic cast
iron and glass stairs, installing new diamond-plate metal stairs above the reinstalled cast iron and glass stairs,
constructing a rooftop penthouse, and installing a new wire mesh railing along the rooftop.
With regard to this proposal, the Commission found that the deteriorated condition of the cast iron and glass vault
light steps warrants their replacement; that the new cast iron vault light steps will maintain the special character of
this building and historic district; that the new cast iron and glass vault light steps will closely match the historic
vault light material in terms of design and detail; and that the change in configuration of the cast iron steps at 32
Greene Street will be in keeping with the configuration of cast iron step historically found in this district; that the
removal of the fire escapes will not eliminate significant decorative features from the façades; that the removal of
the fire escapes will allow the historic features of the façades to be seen more clearly; that removing the fire
escapes and repairing the holes in the façades will aid in the long term preservation of the building; that the new
infill at the northernmost bay is in keeping with the configuration, materials, and finish of other historic
storefronts in buildings of this age and style within this historic district; and that the proposal will not diminish
the special architectural and historic character of the building and the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District. Based on
these findings, the Commission determined the proposed work to be appropriate to the building and the historic
district, and voted to approve the proposal.

However, in voting to grant this approval, the Commission stipulated that 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, the Landmarks Preservation Commission received final drawings BD003, BD004, BD010.2,
BD012.2, BD013.2, CD014.2, BD015.2, BD016, BD018, BD100 through BD107, BD200 through BD203,
BD205, BD302, BD303, BD900, and BD900.1 dated issued January 23, 2008 and BD011.2, BD017, BD200, and
BD300 dated revised March 10, 2008, all prepared by Thomas McKay, R.A., drawings SF-1 and SF-2 dated
revised April 15, 2008, and S-1 through S-6 dated issued January 23, 2006, prepared by Gennady Saratovsky,
P.E., and drawings SP-1 through SP-9, P-1 through P-11, and M-1 through M-13 dated March 18, 2008, prepared
by Alan Schwartz, P.E. These drawings include additional work consisting of revising the previously approved
one-story rooftop addition by relocating it to the north side of the roof, and resetting the existing granite sidewalk
flags over a new vault structure. The Commission reviewed the drawings and found, in accordance with the
provisions set forth in Title 63 of the RCNY, Section 2-19, that rooftop addition will not result in any damage to,
or demolition of, a significant architectural feature of the roof on which it is constructed; that it will not be visible
from any public thoroughfare; that it will not adversely affect significant architectural features of adjacent
improvements; and that it has no outstanding objection for use or bulk listed on the objections sheet for such
structure; and that resetting the existing granite sidewalk flags will aid in the long term preservation of this
significant feature and will not result in damage to or loss of any significant historic fabric; and that the proposal
approved by the Commission has been maintained. Based on this and the above findings, the drawings have been
marked approved with a perforated seal and Certificate of Appropriateness 08-8749 is being issued.

This permit is issued contingent upon the Commission's review and approval of shop drawings for the new cast
iron vault light steps prior to the commencement of that work. These drawings should be submitted to the
Landmarks Preservation Commission when they become 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 Joshua Speakman.

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Issued: 4/18/08
DOCKET: 08-6461
Robert B. Tierney
Chair

PLEASE NOTE: PERFORATED DRAWINGS AND A COPY OF THIS PERMIT HAVE BEEN SENT TO:
Ula Bochinska, McKay Architecture/ Design

cc: C. Kane Levy- Deputy Director of Preservation; Ula Bochinska, McKay Architecture/ Design




PAGE 3
Issued: 4/18/08
DOCKET: 08-6461

Added to EveryBlock on April 25, 2008.

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