Landmark permit issued for 1-23 COLLEGE PLACE, BROOKLYN in Brooklyn Heights

Landmark building permit details

Location 1-23 COLLEGE PLACE, BROOKLYN
Issue date May 7, 2008
(?) COFA COFA 08-9577

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 08-4875
Historic district Brooklyn Heights
Landmark name N/A
Expiration date January 16, 2013
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 September 18, 2007, following the Public Meeting of January 16, 2007 and
Public Hearing and Public Meeting of September 26, 2006, voted to approve a proposal for work at the subject
premises, a collection of four buildings including lots 71, 70, 68, and 64, as put forward in your application
completed August 31, 2006, and as you were informed in the Status Update Letters issued on January 16, 2007
(SUL 07-5074, LPC 06-6688) and September 19, 2007 (SUL 08-3273, LPC 08-0575). This approval will expire
January 16, 2013.

The proposed work, as approved, consists of removing existing rooftop bulkheads, roll-down security gates,
signage and non-historic garage doors; constructing rooftop penthouse and mechanical additions; altering
masonry openings at the façades; installing new infill; and altering the rear façades. The work on 1-9 College
Place (lot 71), Building 5, includes constructing a one-story penthouse clad in stucco and glass on the east and
south façades and brick matching the existing building on the west, rear façade; at the east façade, installing a
new metal and glass doorway infill within the existing garage opening; at the south façade, installing a new brick
pier and bulkheads and metal windows within the existing garage opening to match the overall building;
removing a door and brick wall from part of the westernmost bay of the first floor and installing a new garage
door; at the west, rear façade creating six new window openings with metal multi-light casement windows. The
work on 11 College Place (lot 70), Building 4, includes constructing a one-story stucco and glass penthouse; at
the east, rear façade, replacing the existing garage door with new wood and glass infill, consisting of paired wood
and glass doors, solid wood bulkheads and glazed transoms; at the west, rear façade removing the entire rear
brick façades and building a new stucco and glass façade set back from the rear property line. The work on 13
College Place (lot 68), Building 3, includes constructing an elevator and stair bulkhead on the roof; altering the
masonry openings at the first floor to align with the fenestration pattern above and installing new wood and glass
infill and windows; removing the entire rear brick façades and rebuilding new stucco façades set back from the
rear property line, including installing metal balconies. The work at 23 College Place (lot 64), Building 2,
includes constructing a one-story stucco and glass penthouse and an elevator and stair bulkhead; at the east, front
façade, installing new wood and glass infill within the existing garage openings; widening the window openings
near the center of the second and third floors and installing new metal casement windows; at the west, rear façade
removing the existing one-story extension and constructing a new wall flush with the façade above; enlarging the
window openings at the rear façade and installing new metal fixed and casement windows; all as shown in
drawings 1 through 30 dated January 10, 2007, and drawings 1 through 33 dated September 18, 2007 submitted
as components of the application, and presented at the Public Meetings and Public Hearing. The proposal as
initially presented included, at Building 5, additional penthouse area near the corner of the building, a taller
penthouse, a stair bulkhead atop the penthouse, replacing the east façade garage opening with a window to match
the others on the building, and at Building 4, installing a metal and glass canopy over the entrance, as shown in
drawings 1 through 30 dated September 26, 2006


In reviewing this proposal, the Commission noted that 1-23 College Place is a collection of four commercial
garage buildings built in the early 20th Century; and that in terms of their style, scale, materials, and details, they
contribute to the special architectural and historic character for which the Brooklyn Heights Historic District was
designated.

With regard to this proposal, the Commission found that the removal of the existing bulkheads on the roofs will
not result in the removal of significant historic fabric; that the removal of the existing signs, roll down gates and
modern garage doors will eliminate unsympathetic alterations that detract from the significant architectural
features of the buildings, without causing the removal of any historic fabric; that the proposed rooftop addition at
Building 2 will be minimally visible over the unarticulated secondary façade and only from limited vantage
points at the west end of the street; that the proposed rooftop bulkheads at Building 3 will be visible over
unarticulated secondary façades and will not call undue attention to themselves; that the proposed rooftop
addition at Building 5 will be minimally visible over the rear unarticulated façade and will be clad in brick to
match the existing rear wall; that the rooftop additions on the different buildings will vary in fenestration pattern
and cladding material, thereby maintaining the distinction of multiple buildings within the block; that the
proposed window infill at the south facade of Building 5 will match the existing windows on the building; that
the proposed alteration to the masonry openings at the first floor of Building 3 will align with the fenestration
pattern above and will be compatible with openings historically found on the building; that the proposed doorway
infill at the first floor of all the buildings will be sympathetic to the style and materials of the buildings; that the
proposed garage entrance at the south facade of Building 5 will fit within the existing piers and align with
existing masonry openings; that the proposed enlarged metal casement windows at Building 2 will be in keeping
with the scale and configuration of windows historical found on the building; that the removal of the rear façades
of Buildings 3 and 4 and the one-story addition at Building 2 will not result in the removal of significant historic
fabric; that the proposed rear façade of Building 4 will not be visible from any public thoroughfare; that the
proposed new stucco rear façade of Building 3 will finished to match the color of the existing brick façade; that
the proposed new façade and balconies at Building 3 will be minimally visible from a public thoroughfare; that
the new window openings at the rear of Building 2 will not affect any significant historic fabric, will conform to a
regular pattern and will not be visible from any public thoroughfare; that the new window openings at the rear of
Building 5 will be minimally visible from a public thoroughfare and will not alter or destroy other protected
features nor detract from such protected features by their proximity; and that the work will not detract from the
special architectural and historic character of the building or the Brooklyn Heights 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 this application.

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 A-010, A-011, A-020A, A-020B,
A-030, A-050, A-062, A-061, A-100, A-110, A-120, A-130, and A-150 dated issued November 6, 2007, A-060,
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A-160, A-160B, A-220A, A-220B, A-230, A-310, A-321, A-322, A-500, and A-550 dated revised November 30,
2007, A-140 dated revised February 1, 2008, A-000, A-100A, A-100B, A-120A, A-120B, A-130A, A-130B,
A-140A, A-140B, A-150A, A-150B, A-300, A-511, A-514, A-515, A-516, A-520, and A-540 dated revised
February 15, 2008, A-110A, A-110B, A200, A210A, A-210B, A-320, A-510, and A-517 dated revised March 12,
2008, all prepared by Stephen Jacobs, R.A.; drawings M-100A, M-100B, M-110A, M-110B, M-120A, M-120B,
M-130A, M-130B, M-140A, M-140B, M-150A, M-150B, M-160, M-200, M-210, M-220, M-300, M-305,
M-310, M-315. M-400, P-100A, P-100B, P-110A, P-110B, P-120A, P-120B, P-130A, P-130B, P-140A, P-140B,
P-150A, P-150B, P-160, P-200A through P-200D, P-210A, P-210B. P-210C, P-220, P-230, P-300, P-310,
FP-100A, FP-100B, FP-110A, FP-110B, FP-120A, FP-120B, FP-130A, FP-130B, FP-140A, FP-140B, FP-150,
FP-160, FP-200, FP-300, E-100A, E-100B, E-110A, E-110B, E-120A, E-120B, E-130A, E-130B, E-140A,
E-140B, E-150A, E-150B, E-160, E-170, E-200, E-210, E-300, E-310, E-320, E-400, FA-100, FA-110, FA-120,
FA-130, and FA-200 dated issued November 6, 2007 and prepared by Chris Sideris, P.E.; drawings S-100, S-110,
S-120, S-130, S-200, S-210, S-220, and S-230 dated issued November 6, 2007 and prepared by Ronald Carr, P.E.

Staff reviewed the drawings and found that the work also includes replacing the windows throughout all four
buildings; installing two light fixtures flanking the entrance on Building 4, removing two fire escapes from
Building 5 and 2, replacing deteriorated bricks and repointing deteriorated joints as needed, installing rooftop
HVAC units, installing rooftop terrace dividers on Building 5 and railings on Building 2, installing two stand pipe
connections at Buildings 4 and 5, and interior alterations.

With regards to this additional work, staff found 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 façades will match the historic
windows in terms of configuration, operation, details, material and finish; that the proposed light fixtures are in
keeping with the scale of building and will not call undue attention to themselves; in accordance with Section
2-13, that the fire escapes are not original to the building, do not have architectural merit in themselves, and are
not mentioned in the designation report; that the buildings are not located within an historic district in which fire
escapes are significant architectural elements that contribute to the special architectural and historic character for
which that historic district was designated; that any damage to the facades caused by the removal of the fire
escapes will be repaired to match the adjacent fabric; and that the removal of the fire escapes will not leave gaps,
holes, or unsightly conditions on the façades; that the replacement brick and repointing mortar will match the
existing in terms of strength, color, texture, tooling, size, coursing, and details; in accordance with Section 2-19,
that the rooftop HVAC units, terrace dividers and railings will consist solely of mechanical equipment; that their
installation will not result in damage to, or demolition of a significant architectural feature of the roof; that they
will be minimally visible from a public thoroughfare; and will not adversely affect significant architectural
features of adjacent improvements; that the installation of the stand pipes will not cause 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 are marked approved with a perforated seal, and Certificate of
Appropriateness 08-9577 is being issued.

This permit is issued contingent upon the Commission's review and approval of shop drawings for the new metal
windows at Buildings 2 and 5 and samples of replacement brick and pointing mortar prior to the commencement
of that work. These drawings should be submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission when they become
available and contact Joshua Speakman to schedule a site visit once material samples are available for review.

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
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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.




Robert B. Tierney
Chair

PLEASE NOTE: PERFORATED DRAWINGS AND A COPY OF THIS PERMIT HAVE BEEN SENT TO:
Alexander Jacobs, The Stephen B Jacobs Group

cc: C. Kane Levy- Deputy Director of Preservation




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Issued: 5/7/08
DOCKET: 08-4875

Added to EveryBlock on May 30, 2008.

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