Landmarks designates northeastern Queens suburb a historic district. On December 14, 2004, Landmarks designated the Douglaston Hill Historic District in Queens, a residential park-like community developed between 1890 and 1930, to preserve the special historical and aesthetic values of early twentieth-century architectural styles within the area. The new district consists of 31 freestanding, wooden, single-family homes of Queen Anne, Colonial and Tudor Revival style. Douglaston Hill became one of the first commuter suburbs that marked Queens’ transformation away from small farms and colonial villages. It was also the home of many prominent New Yorkers, including the O’Leary, Stuart and Hamilton families.

At the August 3, 2004 public hearing, Council Member Tony Avella and other public officials spoke in favor of designating the district to preserve styles which are becoming increasingly rare due to over-development or inappropriate alterations throughout Queens. Landmarks noted that the newly created historic district protects the turn-of-century picturesque architectural styles of the rapidly disappearing era of suburban development. (read more…)

DeBeers sought to install its signature colors on landmarked storefront. The DeBeers retail store, located on the ground floor of the St. Regis Hotel, an individual landmark at 699-703 Fifth Avenue at 55th Street, sought to modify a March 2003 approval for new storefront infill. The modifications included replacing the arched windows’ translucent glass with opaque aubergine glass, covering the masonry with opaque aubergine glass, installing white lettering on the aubergine awning, and replacing pin-mounted lettering with metal adhesive lettering. Landmarks denied the application, finding that covering the masonry above the display windows and replacing the arched windows would destroy the pattern of solid and glass. Landmarks also found that the proposed signage would be excessive and the cumulative effect of the changes would draw undue attention. (read more…)

Landmarks approved the proposal, finding that the access changes were well integrated into the building’s design, thus eliminating any discernable impact on the perception of the building from the street. The geometric paving, due to its simple repetitive pattern, would be in the spirit of the original plaza design. Landmarks, noting that the kiosk’s footprint aligns with the pattern of the plaza paving and that the water feature, when off, blends with the material of the steps, found these features complementary to the overall design.Brooklyn Public Library entrance will be enlarged and geometric paving added to plaza. Landmarks approved substantial renovation of the Central Building of the Brooklyn Public Library at 2 Eastern Parkway and Grand Army Plaza. The 1935 Central Building, a Modern Classical structure designed by Alfred Morton Githens and Francis Keally and built in 1935, was designated in 1997 as an individual landmark. The Library sought a Binding Report to redesign the entrance of the Central Building in order to enlarge the plaza, add an access ramp and alter the entrance steps. Aesthetic changes, such as adding kiosks, a water feature and a geometric- patterned series of paving stones in the library’s plaza, were also proposed. (read more…)

Alterations installed without prior approval. Two owners of separate buildings in the Greenwich Village Historic District, 373 Sixth Avenue and 218-224 West 4th Street, sought to legalize work done without Landmarks’ approval. At 373 Sixth Avenue, the owner had installed an internally illuminated projecting sign, flag poles, a new storefront door, and painted the ground floor white. The owner of 218-224 West 4th Street had installed four banners on the West 4th Street and Christopher Street facades. Both owners had received warning letters, and 373 Sixth Avenue had also received a Notice of Violation.

Landmarks declined to legalize the work at both addresses, finding that the 373 Sixth Avenue flagpoles had damaged the 1875 building’s architecture; the signage was excessive; and the modern door was not in keeping with the character of the building. (read more…)

80-room luxury and extended stay hotel approved for vacant site. On August 19, 2003, Downtown Hotels LLC, with principals Robert DeNiro, Ira Drukier and Richard Born, obtained a permit to build a six-story brick and terra cotta luxury hotel on a vacant lot at 377-383 Greenwich Street at the corner of North Moore within the Tribeca West Historic District. The six-story building, with a small penthouse setback from the street, received strong support from Landmarks and Community Board 1 due to its scale and high-quality glazed terra cotta and brick facade.

Finding construction costs prohibitive, Downtown Hotels sought to amend the approved design in September 2004 to add two additional stories and eliminate the terra cotta. Landmarks denied the revision, finding the eight-story height “dominating” and the new material of significantly poorer quality than that originally proposed. (read more…)