Landmark permit issued for 25 EAST 78TH STREET, MANHATTAN in Metropolitan Museum
Landmark building permit details
| Location | 25 EAST 78TH STREET, MANHATTAN |
|---|---|
| Issue date | May 5, 2008 |
| (?) COFA | COFA 08-9432 |
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 | 08-7365 |
| Historic district | Metropolitan Museum |
| 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 Meeting of the same date, voted to approve a proposal to construct rooftop and rear yard additions (pertaining to both 25 East 78th Street and 1014 Madison Avenue) and alter the ground floor facade of 1014 Madison Avenue, as put forward in your application completed January 10, 2008. The approval will expire February 5, 2014. The work, as approved, consists of the removal of a large chiller unit, several air handling units, and an existing skylight at the roof of 25 East 78th Street, the removal of a stair bulkhead at the roof of 1014 Madison Avenue, and the construction of a one-story rooftop addition occupying space on the roofs of both buildings, which will feature a neutral-toned louvered wood screen set in front of the glass at the elevations of the occupiable portion, and a wood louvered screen set in front of a wall at the north portion containing mechanical equipment, with a heavy vertical wall that divides the two spaces at the location of the party wall; alterations at the non-visible rear elevation of 1014 Madison Avenue, including the removal of the plain brick façade and a bay window, and the construction of a new full-height brick extension, including a stair bulkhead; and work at the ground floor of 1014 Madison Avenue, including the removal of the existing 1950's storefront, restoration of the building's rusticated base, and the installation of a casement window to the south, and new metal and glass entrance door with a sidelight, and a transom above at the north. The approved work was shown on presentation boards consisting of photographs, renderings, and drawings labeled "Historic District and View Schedule," "Panorama Views," "Existing Exterior Elevations," "Revised Exterior Elevations," "Historic and Landmarks District Photos," "Existing 1014 Madison Avenue Storefront," "Revised 1014 Madison Avenue Storefront," "Storefront Drawings," "Rendered Views of Project Proposal," Rear Yard Diagrams," "3d Rear Yard Diagrams," "Rear Yard Elevations and Diagrams," "Rear Yard Existing Conditions," "Existing Roof Views," "Revised Roof Views," "Penthouse Views," "Sightline View Locations," "Sightline Views of Penthouse," "Sightline Views of Penthouse" (three drawings with this title), "Existing Building Sections," and "Revised Building Sections," dated December 12, 2007, prepared by Studios Architects, and presented at the Public Hearing and Public Meeting. In reviewing this proposal, the Commission noted that the Metropolitan Museum Historic District designation report describes 25 East 78th Street (block 1393, lot 15) as a Renaissance style palazzo designed by McKim Mead and White and built in 1897-98, and 1014 Madison Avenue as a Beaux-Arts style townhouse designed by York and Sawyer and built in 1902-03; and that the buildings' style, scale, materials and details contribute to the special architectural and historic character of the Metropolitan Museum Historic District. With regard to the proposed rooftop addition, the Commission found that the proposed addition, which will be set well back from the façades, is not visible from 78th Street between Fifth and Madison Avenues; that the proposed removal of a large mechanical unit at the roof of 25 East 78th Street will reduce the visibility of mechanical equipment from 78th Street between Fifth and Madison Avenues; that that the addition is only minimally visible at 79th street and Madison avenue, looking south, where a portion of the brick wall blends into the roofscape of the adjacent building, and minimally visible over the balustrade of the 78th Street façade when seen from the corner of 77th Street and Madison Avenue; that the view of the proposed addition as it appears over the front façade of 25 East 78th Street, when seen from 78th Street just east of Madison Avenue, is limited and quickly drops out of site as one walks east; that the view of the proposed addition from the southeast corner of 78th Street and Park Avenue, where a portion of the proposed addition appears at the cornice, is also very limited, and is seen only at a distance; that the addition is most visible between 79th Street and 80th Street looking south, where it would be seen from a great distance, set within the context of a busy roofscape and sitting far back, such that it appears disassociated with the existing historic building; and that the rooftop addition features a protruding vertical support that marks the division line between 25 East 78th Street and the adjacent building at 1014 Madison Avenue, which serves as a physical reminder that these two buildings remain architecturally distinct. With regard to the proposed rear yard addition at 1014 Madison Avenue, the Commission found that the existing bay window at the rear elevation has been compromised by unsympathetic alterations, and is in a deteriorated condition, therefore its removal will not detract from the architectural character of the building or the Metropolitan Museum Historic District; that the proposed addition will not be visible from any public thoroughfare and therefore will not detract from the architectural character of the façade or the streetscape; that the scale and character of the proposed addition is in keeping with the typology of the mansion building; that many of the rear yards of buildings in this block have large projecting additions, therefore the proposed addition will not detract from the character and integrity of adjacent rear yards; and that the rear of the building is paved, and cut off from the central greenspace by the projecting rear elevations of adjacent buildings, therefore the proposed addition will not interrupt a central contiguous green space. With regard to the proposed work at the ground floor of 1014 Madison Avenue, the Commission found that the current storefront at 1014 Madison Avenue was installed in the 1950's, after the initial wave of storefront installations occurred in mansion buildings along Madison Avenue during the 19-teens and 1920's, therefore the storefront is not a significant alteration, and its removal will not detract from the historic character of the Metropolitan Museum Historic District; that the proposed alterations at the ground level will return the residential scale and character of the building, strengthening the integrity of this section of the Metropolitan Museum Historic District, which has many mansion buildings without storefronts; that while the new door and window openings are not an exact replication, they will provide for barrier-free access while restoring the residential scale and balance of original openings; and that the configuration, and details of the new windows and door recall the original configuration, and details of the ground floor, as seen in the tax photo. Based on all of the above findings, the Commission determined the proposed work to be appropriate to the building and the Greenwich Village Historic District, and voted to approve the proposal. 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. Subsequently, on April 2, 2008, the Landmarks Preservation Commission received final architectural drawings labeled "Issued for Permit - Alt 1," A0.01, A0.02, A0.11, A0.12, A0.13, A0.20, A0.31, A0.32, A0.33, A0.34, A0.35, A1.01, A1.02, A1.03, A1.04, A1.05, A6.01, A6.02, A6.03, A7.01, through A7.05, A7.10, A7.11, and PAGE 2 Issued: 5/5/08 DOCKET: 08-7365 A10.10 (dated February 14, 2008), and D1.00, D1.01 through D1.05 (March 26, 2008), and EX1.02 through EX1.05, EX6.01, EX6.02, and EX6.02 (undated), prepared by Todd DeGarmo; M-100, M-200, M-200C, M-201through M-208, M-300, M-400, M-401, P-100, P-200, P-200C, P-201 through P-207; P-300, and P-400 (dated February 14, 2008), and SP-100, SP-200, SP-200C, SP-201, SP-202, SP-203, SP-205, SP-206, SP-300, FA-100, FA-200, FA-200C, and FA-201 through FA-206 (dated April 4, 2008), prepared by Thomas J. Fiskaa, P.E.; and S-001, S-101, S-1-2, S-103, S-104, S-105, S-201, S-301, and S-401, through S-404, dated February 14, 2008, and prepared by Philip Murray, P.E. Accordingly, staff reviewed the drawings and found 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 08-9432 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 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 Andria Darby. Robert B. Tierney Chair PLEASE NOTE: PERFORATED DRAWINGS AND A COPY OF THIS PERMIT HAVE BEEN SENT TO: David Must, Studios Architecture cc: Caroline Kane Levy, Deputy Director of Preservation PAGE 3 Issued: 5/5/08 DOCKET: 08-7365 |
Added to EveryBlock on May 30, 2008.