Landmark permit issued for 309 WEST 80TH STREET, MANHATTAN in RIVERSIDE DRIVE- W.80-81 ST
Landmark building permit details
| Location | 309 WEST 80TH STREET, MANHATTAN |
|---|---|
| Issue date | June 5, 2008 |
| COFA | COFA 09-0474 |
| Docket | 08-3456 |
| Historic district | RIVERSIDE DRIVE- W.80-81 ST |
| Landmark name | N/A |
| Expiration date | June 5, 2014 |
| Text | ISSUED TO: Merilyn Zarlengo 309 West 8th Street New York, NY 10024 Pursuant to Section 25-307 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York, the Landmarks Preservation Commission, at the Public Meeting of May 27, 2008, following the Public Hearing of April 8, 2008, voted to approve a proposal for work at the subject premises, as put forward in your application completed June 6, 2008. This approval will expire May 27, 2014. The proposed work, as approved, consists of removing the existing rear yard addition and constructing a two-story plus basement addition featuring fenestration at the basement and first floor that consists of large metal framed single-paned windows divided by mullions and two single-paned windows at the second floor of the addition; lowering the sills of the existing third floor rear windows to create two doorways onto the terrace of the two-story addition; constructing an extension at the fourth floor; installing black picket railings at the third and fourth floors; and cladding of the entire rear yard wall in brick; and in the rear yard, the excavating the existing garden to lower the grade by three feet. The proposal was shown in historic photographs, existing condition photographs, photo montages, grade studies, prepared by Steven Harris, R.A., dated May 24, 2008, submitted as components of the application and presented at the Public Hearing and Public Meeting. The original proposal, as originally presented, called for the construction of a two-story plus basement addition with large expanses of single-paned windows, the application of stucco at the rear wall, an additional terrace, and the construction of a penthouse. In reviewing this proposal, the Commission noted that the Riverside Drive/West 80th-81st Streets Designation Report describes 309 West 80th Street as a neo-Gothic/Renaissance rowhouse, designed by Charles H. Israels and built in 1894; and that in terms of its style, scale, materials and details, it contributes to the special architectural and historic character for which the Riverside Drive/West 80th-81st Streets Historic District was designated. With regard to this proposal, the Commission found that the proposed work will not eliminate or damage any significant features; that the rear yard addition will not be visible from a public thoroughfare; that the proposed addition will maintain the plane of the historic third floor and preserve the relationship between this and other buildings in the row; that extending the top floor to a point three feet back from the plane of the rear facade will not increase the height of the building, and will preserve the legibility of the original rear facade and the building's relationship to the rest of the row; that the scale of the addition will not overwhelm the building, and will maintain the building's character as an individual rowhouse; that the brick masonry of the addition and scale of the window openings is consistent with the materials and fenestration of the other rear yard additions on this block; that the proposed rear yard addition will not substantially eliminate the presence of a rear yard or the central greenspace; that the proposed excavation will not damage or destroy any significant historic fabric; that the adjoining rear yards in the block to the north and to the east exhibit substantial change in grade, therefore the proposal, which calls for excavating approximately 3'-0" feet of earth at the rear yard, will not be out of character; and that the surrounding rear yards have enclosures that are as high, or nearly as high, as the proposed garden wall, therefore, the height of the proposed wood fences atop the existing brick wall are in keeping with their context, and will not overwhelm other nearby yards. 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 sealed and signed 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 June 2, 2008, the Landmarks Preservation Commission received final drawings A0.00, A0.01, A0.02, A1.01, A1.02, A1.03, A2.01, A2.02, A2.03, A2.04, A2.05, A2.06, A2.08, A2.09, A2.10, A2.11, issued on May 27, 2008, prepared by Steven Harris, R.A. Staff reviewed the drawings and found that the work approved by the Commission has been maintained. The work also includes exterior alterations at the primary elevation, including the repointing of existing brick and restoring lintels, sills, railing and the brownstone areaway; at the rooftop, the installation of a glass skylight; the installation of four (4) condensors on dunnage; and the extending of flues; and associated interior work, including the construction of non-bearing walls, the installation of new stairways, new plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems. With regard to this proposal, the Commission finds that the repointing mortar, replacement brick, stone patching and stucco patching will match the existing in terms of strength, color, texture, tooling, size, coursing, profiles and details; in accordance with the provisions set forth in Title 63 of the Rules of the City of New York, Section 2-14, that the existing brownstone surface is exfoliating, damaged or otherwise unsound; that the original texture, color, profiles and details of the brownstone will be replicated; that the damaged stone will be cut back to sound stone and the new surface will be keyed into the sound stone and will be built up in successive layers using a cementitious mix with the top layer tinted and finished to match the original brownstone texture and color; and that the methods and materials proposed by the contractor have been provided in the form of written specifications and in accordance with the provisions set forth in Title 63 of the Rules of the City of New York, Section 2-19, that the rooftop addition will consist solely of mechanical equipment; that its installation will not result in damage to or demolition of a significant architectural feature of the roof; that it will not be visible from any public thoroughfare; and that it will not adversely affect significant architectural features of adjacent improvements. Based on these findings, the work is approved. PLEASE NOTE: As the approved work consists of subsurface work, the applicant is required to strictly adhere to the Department of Buildings TPPN 10/88 governing in-ground construction adjacent to historic buildings. It is the applicant's obligation at the time of applying for their permit to inform the Department of Buildings that the TPPN applies. PLEASE NOTE: This permit is contingent upon the Commission's review and approval of samples of work prior to the commencement of work. Please contact Joselito H. Corpus to schedule a site visit once 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 PAGE 2 Issued: 6/5/08 DOCKET: 08-3456 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 Joselito Corpus. Robert B. Tierney Chair PLEASE NOTE: PERFORATED DRAWINGS AND A COPY OF THIS PERMIT HAVE BEEN SENT TO: Devin ONeill, Steven Harris Architects LLP PAGE 3 Issued: 6/5/08 DOCKET: 08-3456 |
Added to EveryBlock on July 1, 2008.