Landmark permit issued for 229 LENOX AVENUE, MANHATTAN in Mount Morris Park
Landmark building permit details
| Location | 229 LENOX AVENUE, MANHATTAN |
|---|---|
| Issue date | June 20, 2008 |
| (?) COFA | COFA 09-1061 |
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 | 08-6592 |
| Historic district | Mount Morris Park |
| Landmark name | N/A |
| Expiration date | January 15, 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 January 15, 2008, following the Public Meeting of December 12, 2007, and Public Hearing of November 13, 2007, voted to approve a proposal for work at the subject premises, as put forward in your application completed October 18, 2007, and as you were informed in the Status Update Letter issued on January 15, 2008 (SUL 08-6374, LPC 07-9331). This approval will expire January 15, 2014. The proposed work, as approved, consists of constructing a one-story rooftop addition, with a stair bulkhead, behind the existing mansard roof and set back from the rear façade, clad in metal panels; at the front façade, removing the non-historic stained-glass windows; installing new wood one-over-one, double-hung windows throughout the front façade; at the front areaway, modifying the existing metal fence to move the gate to the south end, removing the metal stairs and basement gate, widening the masonry opening of the basement doorway, and installing a new barrier-free access lift in the south end of the areaway; and at the rear façade, removing existing windows and masonry infill, altering the window openings and installing new one-over-one, double-hung windows and terrace doors. The proposal as initially presented included a solid parapet at the rear of the rooftop addition and a two-story rooftop addition, as shown in drawings LM01 through LM05, LM6a, LM6b, and LM6c dated November 1, 2007; LM03, LM04, LM05, LM6a, and LM6b dated December 1, 2007; and LM03, LM04, LM05, and LM6b dated January 4, 2008, all submitted as components of the application, and presented at the Public Meetings and Public Hearing. In reviewing this proposal, the Commission noted that the Mount Morris Park Historic District Designation Report describes 229 Lenox Avenue as a Beaux-Arts style house designed by Clarence True and built in 1899; and that in terms of its style, scale, materials, and details, it contributes to the special architectural and historic character for which the Mount Morris Park Historic District was designated. The Commission further noted that this permit is being issued in conjunction with Certificate of No Effect 09-1064 (LPC 09-1116) for restorative work at the front façade. With regard to this proposal, the Commission found that the construction of the proposed one-story rooftop addition will not cause damage to or loss of any significant historic fabric; that the building is not part of a row and there is not a continuous roofline that will be damaged or altered by the proposed rooftop addition; that the proposed rooftop addition will be set back from the rear façade of the building and will allow the historic massing of the building to remain; that the occupiable space of the proposed rooftop addition will not be visible over the primary façade; that the mechanical vent will be minimally visible over the front façade, from limited locations along West 122nd Street; that the proposed rooftop addition will be visible over the simple rear façade of the building, in conjunction with the rear facades of an apartment building of a similar size; that the height of the proposed rooftop addition will closely align to the height of the apartment buildings on either side of the building; that while the addition will be visible over the rear façade, the simple design, neutral metal cladding and reduced scale of the addition will allow it to recede from view when seen through the adjacent playground; that the deteriorated condition of the stained glass windows warrants their replacement; that the existing stained glass windows are not original to the building and are not part of a significant alteration, and therefore their removal will not result in damage to or loss of any significant historic fabric; that the proposed one-over-one, double-hung windows are in keeping with the original style of the building and will return the building to a condition more in keeping with its original appearance; that the modification to the areaway fence, the enlargement of the basement door, removal of the metal areaway stairs, removal of the metal gate, and installation of a barrier-free access lift within the areaway, will allow for barrier-free access while not removing a substantial amount of significant historic fabric; that the alterations at the areaway will be partially below grade and will not significantly alter the appearance or character of the building; that the lift will be stored in the down position and will not call undue attention to itself; that the existing fenestration pattern at the rear façade is not original to the building and its alteration will not cause damage to or loss of any significant historic fabric; that the proposed altered fenestration pattern at the rear façade will retain the same general shape and pattern as existing windows on the same façade, form a consistent and regular pattern, and will not detract from the significant architectural features of the building; and that the work will not detract from the special character of the Mount Morris Park 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 a set of unmounted copies of the presentation drawings and 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 T1.0, A0.0, A1.0, and A3.0 dated issued February 12, 2008, and A2.0 dated June 17, 2008 all prepared by Keitaro Nei, R.A.; P1.0 through P5.0 dated June 12, 2008 and prepared by Abraham Joselow, P.E.; and S-0 dated June 5, 2008, S-1 through S-7, S-10, and S-11 dated June 11, 2008, and S-9 dated June 12, 2008, prepared by Solomon Rosenzweig, P.E. Staff reviewed the drawings and found that the work also includes restorative work approved under Certificate of No Effect 09-1064. 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 are marked approved with a perforated seal, and Certificate of Appropriateness 09-1061 is being issued. PLEASE NOTE, this permit is contingent upon the Commission's review and approval of shop drawings for the new windows 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. PAGE 2 Issued: 6/20/08 DOCKET: 08-6592 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. Robert B. Tierney Chair PLEASE NOTE: PERFORATED DRAWINGS AND A COPY OF THIS PERMIT HAVE BEEN SENT TO: Mitra Mehr cc: C. Kane Levy- Deputy Director of Preservation PAGE 3 Issued: 6/20/08 DOCKET: 08-6592 |
Added to EveryBlock on July 29, 2008.