Landmark permit issued for 34-42 CHARLTON STREET, MANHATTAN in Charlton King Vandam

Landmark building permit details

Location 34-42 CHARLTON STREET, MANHATTAN
Issue date April 21, 2008
(?) COFA COFA 08-8987

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 08-7802
Historic district Charlton King Vandam
Landmark name N/A
Expiration date February 5, 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 February 5, 2008, following the Public Hearing of the same date, voted to
approve a proposal to construct additions, an interior courtyard, and a metal and brick screen at the subject
premises, as put forward in your application completed January 30, 2008. The approval will expire February 5,
2014.

The proposed work, as approved, consists of the demolition of the rear wall, deck and stairs of 42 Charlton Street,
returning it to its original footprint; construction of a new non-visible bulkhead, clad in zinc panels; the creation
of a courtyard with a glass floor, wood and glass curtain walls, and plantings in the north portion of the rear yard;
and the construction of a new five-story wood-and-glass building at the southern portion of the rear yard to
extend to the rear lot line; the removal of the roof over the auditorium at 34-40 Charlton Street; the construction
of three additional floors over the auditorium with a standing seam sloped roof; the installation of a new
passenger elevator at the northwest corner and a new minimally visible elevator bulkhead, clad in zinc panels; the
lateral enlargement of the existing stair bulkhead, clad in zinc panels; the construction of a one-story stage that
will extend to the rear lot line clad in architectural terra cotta finished to match the garden wall on which is rests;
the installation of architectural terra cotta screen on steel frame at the northern, eastern, and central portions of the
rear wall of the one-story stage; the construction of painted steel with terra cotta infill screen designed in the
Gothic-style to be mounted fifteen feet from the rear wall of the building and to rise from the roof of the
one-story stage to the roof of the new building and to be coplanar with the rear façade of adjacent buildings; the
extension of the rear facade at the eastern wing of the building to align with the height of the school building
with new masonry to match the existing rear façade below; the installation of a new wood multi-light window on
this rear façade at the fourth floor in the center bay with a new terra cotta surround and sill; the removal of the
existing door at the second floor and the installation of a smaller double-hung wood window and brick infill to
match the surrounding masonry; the creation of rear terraces at the second and third floors, and a walkway at the
fifth floor, each with a steel picket guard rail; the installation of a steel stairway and railing from the third floor
terrace to the second floor terrace; and the installation of a steel railing at the south wall of the roof; as shown in
current condition and historic photographs, models of the building, and drawings labeled 1-24, dated February 5,
2008, prepared by Andrew Bartle, R.A., submitted as components of the application, and presented at the Public
Hearing and Public Meeting.

In reviewing this proposal, the Commission noted that 34-40 Charlton is a Gothic style school building, built in
the 1820s, and that 42 Charlton is a Federal style townhouse, built in the 1820s; and that, in terms of style, scale,
materials, and details, both buildings contribute to the special architectural and historic character of the
Charlton-King-Vandam Historic District.

With regard to this proposal, the Commission found that demolishing the rear wall at 42 Charlton Street will not
result in the loss of significant historic features of the building;
that reducing the depth of 42 Charlton Street will return the building to its original footprint; that installing a
courtyard with a glass floor, wood and glass curtain walls, and plantings will increase the amount of greenery and
will create a usable and productive outdoor space behind the townhouse; that 42 Charlton Street is completely cut
off from the block by the large corner building that wraps around it, and therefore, the new five-story building
and the courtyard will not be visible from the street or the central greenspace; that locating the new building at the
back of the lot abutting the larger corner building will maintain the presence of a yard; that removing the roof
and constructing a three-story addition above the auditorium to 34 Charlton Street will not detract from the
historic or architectural significance of the building, and that the three-story addition for the Science Pavilion will
not be visible from a public thoroughfare; that the new elevator bulkhead will only be visible from an oblique
angle on Charlton Street and will be clad in a neutral material; that the steel and brick screen to be mounted
fifteen feet beyond the rear wall of the school building will create an innovative division without creating an
opaque barrier between the school and the central greenspace, and will align with the rear wall of the adjacent
property at 26 Charlton Street; that the pattern of the screen will draw from the building's Gothic-style details,
and that the lightweight and open design will mitigate the presence of the three additional stories at the rear and
will diminish their impact on the adjacent buildings and greenspace; that the low height of the one-story addition
that slips under the screen and projects to the rear lot line will not negatively impact the rear yards of the adjacent
buildings; that the existing garden wall will be modified to feature a perforated brick pattern at the upper portion,
maintaining the rear lot line while supporting a smooth transition between the central greenspace and the school
building; and that the overall design of the additions, courtyard, and screen, will enhance the special architectural
character of the Charlton-King-Vandam Historic District. Based on these findings, the Commission determined
the proposed work to be appropriate to the building and to the Historic District, and voted to approve it.

However, in voting to grant this approval, the Commission stipulated that two copies of the final signed and
sealed Department of Buildings filing drawings be submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for
review and approval.

Subsequently, on April 13, 2008, the Commission received drawings T-001, EX-200C, EX-200B, EX-201,
EX-202, EX-203, EX-204, EX-205, EX-206, A-301E, A-302E, D-200B, D-201, D-202, D-203, D-204, D-205,
A-200B, A-201, A-202, A-203, A-204, A-205, A-206, A-301, A-302, A-402, A-404, A-406, A-407, and A-409,
all prepared by Andrew Bartle, R.A. The Commission reviewed the drawings and found that the proposal has
been amended to include the installation of six (6) new non-visible HVAC units at the roofs; and interior
alterations. The Commission reviewed the drawings and found, in accordance with the RCNY, Title 63, Section
2-19, that the installation of the new mechanical equipment at the roofs will not result in damage to, or demolition
of, any significant architectural features of the roofs of the buildings; that it will be non-visible from public
thoroughfares; and that the new equipment will not adversely affect significant architectural features of adjacent
improvements;and that the proposal approved by the Commission has been maintained. Based on these and the
above findings, the drawings have been marked approved with a perforated seal, and Certificate of
Appropriateness 08-8987 is being issued.

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
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Issued: 4/21/08
DOCKET: 08-7802
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 Emily Goldman.




Robert B. Tierney
Chair

PLEASE NOTE: PERFORATED DRAWINGS AND A COPY OF THIS PERMIT HAVE BEEN SENT TO:
Andrew Bartle, ABA Studio

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




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Issued: 4/21/08
DOCKET: 08-7802

Added to EveryBlock on May 30, 2008.

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