Beaver Building gets new 16th-story addition and significant renovations. Richard Fownes of Cocoa Partners, LP gained approval to renovate the Beaver Building, an individual landmark that housed the N.Y. Cocoa Exchange from 1931-1972. Located on a narrow lot at the junction of Beaver and Pearl Streets, the Beaver Building is flatiron- shaped, steel-framed and has a tripartite design, prevalent in early New York skyscrapers, with three sections: a vertically-aligned stone base, a horizontal-patterned brick center and an ornate terracotta top. Constructed in 1903, the building was designated a landmark in 1996.

As part of the planned conversion to housing, the owner applied to remove the existing metal infill; create an entrance on Pearl Street; add entrance canopies, new lighting and sconces with a building motif; and construct a stucco rooftop addition to contain a gym. The addition would be partially visible from Pearl, Beaver, Hanover and Water Streets. (read more…)

Owner gets 2 approvals: 4-story cast-stone/brick building to replace existing garage; 1910 mansion to be expanded. The 1 Montgomery Place Association, the owner of two lots within the Park Slope Historic District, applied for permission to alter the existing 1910 neo-Federal-style mansion at 1 Montgomery Place and, immediately adjacent at 125 8th Avenue, to demolish a one-story garage and build a new four-story building.

BKSK Architects designed a cast-stone and brick four-story structure to replace the existing garage. The design included a caststone bay extending from the first to the second floor; brick cladding on the second and third floors; and the repetition of cast-stone cladding and a prominent grey cornice on the top story. Metal balconies would ornament the second and third stories. For 1 Montgomery Place, BKSK presented a proposal for a copper-topped, one-story addition on the roof and a new area-way, ADA-ramp access and landscaping along 8th Avenue.

At the initial hearing, Landmarks expressed concerns over the height and location of the rooftop addition at 1 Montgomery Place, commenting that it was too visible from adjacent streets. BKSK submitted a revised proposal that reduced the height by 80 ft. and increased the setback from the existing wall from 5’6″ to 13’4″. (read more…)

Landmarked bank to be converted to market. On February 15, 2005, Landmarks unanimously approved the adaptive reuse of the New York Savings Bank, located at West 14th Street and Eighth Avenue, by Balducci’s, a high-end food market that traces its roots to a Greenwich Village fruit and vegetable stand. Constructed in 1896, the marble-facade Classical Revival-styled bank was designated an individual and an interior landmark in 1988. In 1994, it was converted to a large carpet store that remained at the site until December 2004.

Balducci’s proposed to alter the bank’s exterior doors, create grade-level entry doors along the Eighth Avenue side and add handicap access. An interior staircase and vestibule wall, added in 1952, would be removed to restore the interior more closely to its original appearance. No new architectural elements would be introduced into the interior and none of the food display cases or racks would be secured to the interior marble. (read more…)

Renowned fashion designer sought to increase light and space of studio. Designer Diane von Furstenberg sought alterations to her existing retail studio located at 440-442 West 14th Street in the Gansevoort Market Historic District. Developed in 1887, the building is an example of neo-Grec and Queen Anne style French flats, which contribute to the special architectural and historic character of the district.

Von Furstenberg and architect Daniel Wood of the Work Architecture Company proposed to alter the front facade by installing a new glazed storefront, a metal and corrugated glass wraparound canopy and new single-paned windows. Also proposed were a metal-clad rear yard addition, an asymmetrical rooftop addition and a laminated stone and glass skylight, to facilitate more natural light in the studio. (read more…)

Cement coating applied without permits will damage masonry. Without permits, the owner of 315 President Street in the Carroll Gardens Historic District applied an orange, heavy cement-based waterproof coating to the exterior of his 1876 neo-Grec masonry rowhouse believing that it would protect the building, and also altered the windows. Following warning letters from Landmarks, the owner applied to legalize the waterproofing treatment and windows.

Denying both alterations, Landmarks advised the owner that if the acrylic waterproofing treatment remained it would cause serious damage to the brownstone masonry by preventing moisture from escaping. Due to the impermeable nature of the sealant, the masonry would crack during each post-winter thawing and eventually crumble when water became trapped between the sealant and the masonry. Landmarks also found that its orange color conflicted with other brownstones. The waterproof coating, which is specifically designed for permanency, will have to be chiseled off and the brownstone facade reconstructed. Landmarks, commenting to CityLand, noted that it is unfortunate that permits were not sought prior to the sealant’s application because the owner was misled to believe that the coating would protect the historic building. (read more…)