Landmarks appears to disfavor demolition of stable for modern apartment in the Ladies’ Mile Historic District. Anthony Schaeffer, the owner of 16 West 18th Street, applied for a permit to demolish a two-story 1867-built stable on the site in order to construct a modern apartment building in the Ladies’ Mile Historic District.

At the Landmarks hearing, Schaeffer’s architect, Morris Adjmi, testified that the new narrow 12-story building would be bricked with sandblasted glass blocks to give it an appearance “lighter than white.” Architectural historian Bill Higgins, of Higgins and Quasebarth, who testified on behalf of Schaeffer, stated that the former stable lacked historical and architectural significance. He produced evidence that the stable had been altered and renovated repeatedly since it was built in the 1860s, including rear additions, the loss of an Italianate cornice, and the conversion to a storefront. He also noted that, because of the extensive renovations and lack of architectural style, the stable was not considered historic by the Federal Department of the Interior. Higgins urged Landmarks to consider the continuing evolution of the area, and argued against the “freezing of a Historic District” where nothing with a shred of historic fabric can be destroyed. (more…)

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. (more…)

St. Luke’s to construct one-story addition. Landmarks approved renovation plans for St. Luke’s School located at 675 Greenwich Street in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village Historic District. The St. Luke’s School buildings consist of a gymnasium, constructed in 1926 and designed by Renwick, Aspinwall and Guard, and a school building constructed in 1952. St. Luke’s sought to demolish part of the third floor of the gymnasium at the southern end of the building and construct a visible, one-story rooftop addition set back from the existing parapet wall. The proposal included removal of the top 2 ft. of the existing brick parapet wall at the western portion of the south facade and a 4 ft. increase in the height of the gymnasium parapet on the west facade with brick matching the color, size and texture of the existing wall. St. Luke’s proposed additional aesthetic renovations, including window and entranceway alterations and light fixture installations.

Landmarks approved the proposal, finding that because the addition would be only incidentally visible from the street when viewing the church and other historic buildings, the changes would not adversely affect the historic district. Landmarks also found that the additional aesthetic renovations would not detract from the building or the district. (more…)

Work will restore features removed since i ts 1899-1910 construction. Landmarks issued a binding report approving an $18.9 million renovation of the Lion House at the Bronx Zoo, a designated City landmark since 2000, which was built in 1899-1910 and designed by Heins & La Farge.

The Department of Design & Construction proposed substantial repair work, including restoration of the carved terra cotta, copper roofing, limestone and brick masonry and existing parapets. To return the Lion House to its original appearance, DDC proposed new chimneys, skylights, doors and a studio cage, all to mirror historic plans. Alterations would include construction of a tall retaining wall, replacement of entry stairs with a gradual ramp, relocation of two lion sculptures, and the addition of new enlarged windows, doors and sculptures. (more…)

Extensive renovations approved for Sara Delano Roosevelt House. At the October 26, 2004 Landmarks hearing, Hunter College gained approval of its extensive plans to restore and preserve the Sara Delano Roosevelt Memorial House, designated in 1973 and located at 47-49 East 65th Street. Sara Delano Roosevelt was the mother of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, who lived in the house with his wife, Eleanor, and convalesced there from polio in 1921-1922.

The proposed changes include modifying the fence, installing a barrier- free access chairlift, installing rooftop mechanical equipment and rooftop and rear yard additions . (more…)