Landmark permit issued for 433 WAVERLY AVENUE, BROOKLYN in Clinton Hill

Landmark building permit details

Location 433 WAVERLY AVENUE, BROOKLYN
Issue date May 14, 2008
(?) COFA COFA 08-9636

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 08-8444
Historic district Clinton Hill
Landmark name N/A
Expiration date March 25, 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 March 25, 2008, 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 February 28,
2008, and as you were informed in Status Update Letter 08-8404, issued on March 25, 2008 (LPC 07-7357).
This approval will expire March 25, 2014.

The proposed work, as approved, consists modifying the steel deck structure constructed at the rear extension and
on its roof and connected by a two-story spiral stair, built without Landmarks permits, by reconstructing the deck
to set back from the edge of the roof and eliminating the upper flight of the spiral stair connecting the elevated
rear deck to the rooftop deck; removing wood panel fencing, installed without Landmarks permits, and installing
metal picket railing painted black at the rear elevated deck, rooftop deck and parapet wall; installing new wood
panel fencing at the north courtyard and at the north side of the steel deck at the 1st floor; removing the door and
replacement windows, installed without Landmarks permits, and installing new two-over-two double-hung wood
windows within the arched-headed openings and a new wood and glass door integrated into a segment of the flat
fascia of the new wood cornice with brackets painted black to match the original cornice; and applying stucco to
the exposed masonry wall at the 3rd floor of the rear façade and the north façade of the existing rear extension to
match the existing stucco at the north lot-line wall. The proposal was shown in historic photographs and existing
condition photographs, and presentation drawings dated March 19, 2008, prepared by NV Architects, submitted
as components of the application and presented at the Public Hearing and Public Meeting. The proposal as
originally presented called for the legalization of doors and windows installed without Landmarks Preservation
Commission permits at the 3rd floor of the rear façade.

In reviewing this proposal, the Commission noted that the Clinton Hill Historic District designation report
describes 433 Waverly Avenue as an Italianate style carriage house and residence built in the mid-19th century;
and that the building's scale, style, materials, and details are among the features which contribute to the special
architectural and historic character of the Clinton Hill Historic District. The Commission also noted that WL
07-0206 was issued 12/5/06 for "Installation of light fixtures and conduit without permit(s)"; NOV 07-0274 was
issued 3/12/07 for "Rear facade alterations without permit(s);" NOV 07-0542 was issued 8/14/07 for
"Replacement of door and alteration to transom above door without permit(s);" NOV 07-0543 was issued 8/13/07
for "Facade work without permit(s);" NOV 07-0544 was issued 8/14/07 for "Replacement of windows without
permit(s);" WL 07-0545 was issued 8/14/07 for "Installation of security grilles without permit(s);" and NOV
07-0546 was issued 8/14/07 for "Replacement of garage door without permit(s)."

With regard to this proposal, the Commission found that the installation of the deck structure did not eliminate
any significant historic or architectural features from the building; that pulling back the elevated deck at the
rooftop terrace will minimize the visibility of the structure from the garden; that the elimination of the solid
railing and upper flight of spiral stair, and the introduction of simple and well-scaled picket railing, will
reintroduce a degree of transparency at the visible rear façade; and that the stucco finish at the existing sidewall
and proposed parapet at the rear extension will blend harmoniously with the stucco at the visible south façade.
Based on these findings, the Commission determined the proposed work to be appropriate to the building and the
historic district, and voted to approve this application.

However, in voting to grant this approval, the Commission stipulated that the raised parapet at the side wall of the
terrace be eliminated and replaced with metal railing, and that the original cornice be reconstructed and the
window openings be redesigned at the 3rd floor of the rear façade in consultation with LPC staff; and 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, on May 2, 2008, the Landmarks Preservation Commission received drawings L01 through L03 and
L05 through L09, dated 4/9/08, and revised f drawings L04 and L10, dated 4/22/08, prepared by NV Architects.
Staff reviewed the drawings and found that the work approved by the Commission has been maintained. The
work also includes, at the Waverly Avenue façade, removing seven (7) one-over-one double-hung replacement
windows and installing new two-over-two double-hung wood windows painted black at the 1st, 2nd and 3rd
floors; removing the existing door and transom window, installed without LPC permits, and installing a new
wood door with vertical grooves painted black and a divided light transom window painted black; removing the
existing garage door, installed without LPC permits, and installing new wood out-swinging garage doors with
vertical grooves painted black and a divided light transom window painted black; removing the existing light
fixtures and exposed conduit, installed without LPC permits, and installing two (2) new wall-mounted pendant
fixtures to the sides of the door openings; removing the existing door and window security grilles and, installed
without LPC permits, and installing new security bars painted black at the window only at the 1st floor; installing
a new wood cornice painted black to match the historic cornice above the door openings; and scraping and
repainting the upper cornice black to match existing. With regard to this additional work, staff finds, in
accordance with the provisions set forth in Title 63 of the Rules of the City of New York, Section 3-04, that the
new windows at the primary façade will match the historic windows in terms of configuration, operation, details,
material and finish; and that the new windows at the secondary façades will not be visible from any public
thoroughfare, that they will be installed in existing openings, and that they will not replace "special" windows, as
defined in the Rules. Furthermore, staff finds that that the removal of the existing fire escapes will eliminate
unsympathetic alterations that detract from the significant architectural features of the buildings, without causing
the removal of any historic fabric. Based on this and the above findings, the drawings are marked approved with
a perforated seal, and Certificate of Appropriateness 08-9636 (LPC 08-8444) is being issued.

Please note that Warning Letter WL 07-0206 and WL 07-0545, and Notice of Violation NOV 07-0274, NOV
07-0542, NOV 07-0543, NOV 07-0544 and NOV 07-0546 remains in force against the property. Failure to
address these violations will result in the issuance of a second Notice of Violation 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 NOV would require a court appearance, and a civil penalty may be imposed and cannot be cured.

Once the corrective work has been performed, please submit photographs, with close-up shots of the completed
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Issued: 5/14/08
DOCKET: 08-8444
work, and a letter from the building owner requesting a Notice of Compliance to the staff of the Commission.

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 Cory Scott Herrala.




Robert B. Tierney
Chair

PLEASE NOTE: PERFORATED DRAWINGS AND A COPY OF THIS PERMIT HAVE BEEN SENT TO:
Tom van den Bout, NV Architects

cc: William Neeley/LPC- Deputy Director of Preservation




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Issued: 5/14/08
DOCKET: 08-8444

Added to EveryBlock on May 30, 2008.

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