Landmark building permit details
| Location | 240 CENTRAL PARK SOUTH, MANHATTAN |
|---|---|
| Issue date | January 30, 2009 |
| (?) COFA | COFA 09-7054 |
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 | 09-2884 |
| Historic district | N/A |
| Landmark name | 240 CENTRAL PARK SOUTH APARTMENTS |
| Expiration date | January 30, 2015 |
| 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 July 22, 2008, following the Public Hearing of the same date and the Public Hearing of June 17, 2008 (item read into the record only, not heard), voted to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness for the proposed work at the subject premises, as put forward in your application completed May 15, 2008, and as you were informed in Status Update Letter 09-2107 (LPC 08-1178), issued July 22, 2008. The proposed work, as approved, consists of exterior alterations at a service courtyard, adjoining West 58th Street, including removing existing security roll-down gates and related housing and framing, fencing, and a pedestrian metal gate at the perimeter of the courtyard; repairing existing brick walls, adjoining the pedestrian and vehicular entrances; constructing a 1' high perimeter/planter wall and installing 10' high metal fencing, with wire mesh, along the western portion of the property line, adjoining the courtyard; installing new 10' high metal bi-fold vehicular gates, a pedestrian gate, and fencing, all with wire mesh, at the eastern portion of the property line; replacing existing metal chain link fencing within the courtyard and at the roof of a one story structure within the courtyard with new metal fencing with mesh panels. The work was shown on seven presentation boards, labeled L-1, L-2, L-3, L-4, A-01, A-02 and A-03 and dated June 6, 2007; and five presentation boards, labeled LPC1, LPC2, LPC3, LPC4 and LPC5 by the Commission staff, dated (presented) July 22, 2008, and consisting of drawings, photographs, and computer-generated renderings, all prepared by Douglas J. Lister and presented at the Public Hearing and Public Meeting. In reviewing this proposal, the Commission noted that the 240 Central Park South Apartments Designation Report describes 232-246 Central Park South (aka 233-241 West 58th Street, 232-246 West 59th Street, 1792-1810 Broadway) as an Art-Deco Modernist style apartment building, designed by Mayer and Whittlesey and built in 1939-1940. With regard to this proposal, the Commission found that the removal of the existing roll-down, security gates and fencing will not alter, eliminate or conceal any significant features of the building; that the service courtyard historically featured in-swing, security gates and planters, therefore the presence of bi-fold security gates and a planter will return the building closer to its historic appearance; that although the historic planters did not feature fencing, the presence of fencing at a planter, adjoining a service courtyard, will be in keeping with the character and style of buildings of this type, style and age; that the size of the gates, fencing and planter will be consistent with the scale of the apartment building and service courtyard; that the materials and finishes of the proposed gates, fencing and planter will match materials historically used at the service entrance and found throughout the building; that the design details of the proposed gates and adjoining fencing, including prominent horizontal bars at both the gates and fencing and diagonal bars at the gates only, will both replicate significant characteristics of the historic gates, thereby helping to integrate the installations into the building's overall design, and support a visual distinction between the entrance and planters in keeping with the historic design of the service courtyard; and that the proposed replacement fencing at the interior areas of the courtyard and roof will be simply-designed and only seen through the proposed gates and adjoining fencing at the property line, thereby remaining a discreet presence. Based on these findings, the Commission determined the work to be appropriate to the building and the historic district and voted to approve the application. However, in voting to approve this proposal, the Commission required that the proposed fence and gates at the property line be set back from the street side of the rebuilt masonry posts. 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 November 5, 2008, December 12, 2008, and January 30, 2009, the Commission received written specifications, dated November 5, 2008 and January 30, 2009; current condition photographs; final drawing A-01, dated June 6, 2007; and final drawings A-02 and A-03, dated revised December 10, 2008, and prepared by Douglas James Lister, RA. Accordingly, staff reviewed these materials and noted that the gates and fencing will be set back 4" from the exterior face of the masonry piers and that they include modifications to the approved work and additional work, including installing a steel curb and metal fence, instead of a masonry retaining wall within the service yard, in order to accommodate barrier free access requirements; increasing the depth of the metalwork of the proposed fencing and gates from 2" to 4"; installing planter boxes, attached to the interior side of the proposed gates; replacing existing security gates with new gates, featuring a different design, at a southern-facing courtyard facade; and creating a new masonry opening at a southern-facing courtyard facade and installing paired doors within the new masonry opening. With regard to this work, staff found that the work will not alter, eliminate or conceal any significant, protected features of the Individual Landmark; that the installation of a fence and curb, instead of the retaining wall, and installation of planter boxes will only be seen through the proposed fencing and will be simply detailed and in keeping with the character of the service courtyard; that the increase in depth of the metalwork and installation of planter boxes will not significantly alter the proportions or perceived transparency of the gates and fencing; that the replacement gates and doors to be installed at a facade within the service area will only be partially visible from public thoroughfares at a distance through the service yard and fencing; and that the new gates and doors at the façade will be simple in design and in keeping with the scale and character of existing entrances at the service yard, thereby not drawing undue attention to themselves. Additionally, staff found that the design approved by the Commission has been maintained and the change required by the Commission has been included. Based on these and the above findings, the drawings have been marked approved with a perforated seal, and Certificate of Appropriateness 09-7054 is being issued. PLEASE NOTE: This permit is contingent on the brickwork and pointing being performed when the temperature remains a constant 45 degrees Fahrenheit or above for a 72 hour period from the commencement of the work; and upon the Commission's review and approval of brick and mortar samples prior to the commencement of work. Once field samples are ready, promptly contact the Commission staff to schedule a site visit. 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: 1/30/09 DOCKET: 09-2884 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 Bernadette Artus. Robert B. Tierney Chair PLEASE NOTE: PERFORATED DRAWINGS AND A COPY OF THIS PERMIT HAVE BEEN SENT TO: Douglas J. Lister, RA cc: Caroline Kane Levy, Deputy Director of Preservation/LPC PAGE 3 Issued: 1/30/09 DOCKET: 09-2884 |
Added to EveryBlock on February 25, 2009.
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