People’s Trust Company Building. Image Credit: LPC.

Elected officials and local residents urge Landmarks to designate 20th century financial-services-industry structures. On November 29, 2016, Landmarks held hearings on the possible individual landmark designations of two buildings built as banks in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. The People’s Trust Company Building, at 181 Montague Street, and the adjacent National Title Guaranty Company Building, at 185 Montague Street, are both part of Brooklyn’s “Bank Row.”  Historic banking structures on the south side of Montague are protected as part of the 2011 Borough Hall Skyscraper Historic District. (read more…)

Proposed Development for 141 Willoughby. Image Credit: Savanna

Subcommittee raised concerns about the aggregate effect the mass development of Downtown Brooklyn will have on school resources. On October 5, 2016, the City Council’s Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises heard testimony on an application to construct a new 49-story mixed-use building at 141 Willoughby Street in Downtown Brooklyn. The site is a triangular-shaped zoning lot bounded by Flatbush Avenue Extension, Willoughby Street and Gold Street. Currently the space is occupied by a three-story private school, the Institute of Design and Construction, an accessory surface parking lot for 16 vehicles, and a public open space with planting and seating areas. (read more…)

Key kiosk features. Image Credit: LinkNYC.

Proposed rule change would change text governing installation of public pay phones in landmarked area to allow for installation of Public Design Commission-approved public communications structures with digital advertising. On March 3, 2016, the Landmarks Preservation Commission held a hearing on a proposed amendment to agency rules governing the installation phone booths. The proposed rule changes would update the agency rules pertaining to public pay phones. The updated rules responds to the de Blasio administration’s initiative to replace public pay phones with new public communications structures providing phone service and free Wi-Fi, with a tablet that accesses emergency services, and charging stations for cellphones and other electronic devices. (read more…)

Architects rendering of 70 Henry Street. Image credit: Morris Adjmi Architects

Adjmi-designed plan to redevelop former movie theater wins approval after schemes stalled under previous ownership. The Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to approve a proposal for the renovation of the existing building and the addition of three stories to 70 Henry Street in the Brooklyn Heights Historic District. The building was constructed in 1895, for use as a butcher shop, and has gone through multiple alterations including the creation of a chamfered corner entrance for a mid-twentieth century restaurant use. Until recently, and for the previous four decades, the site was home to the Brooklyn Heights Cinema. The redeveloped building would be residential, with ground floor commercial uses.

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Rendering of proposed development on 70 Henry Street, Brooklyn. Image Credit: Gerner Kronick & Valcarcel Architects.

Landmarks Commissioners failed to reach consensus for new mixed-use building plan for site of movie theater. October 22, 2013, the Landmarks Preservation Commission considered a revised plan for a mixed-use development at 70 Henry Street in the Brooklyn Heights Historic District. The site is currently occupied by the Brooklyn Heights Cinema in a one-story building dating to 1895 that has undergone extensive alterations. Landmarks previously considered a development plan for this building on November 27, 2012, but was unable to reach consensus on either the appropriateness of the proposed demolition or the design of the planned new five-story structure.

Cinema owner Ken Lowy stated that a new theater would be incorporated into the planned new building designed by an architect that he worked with. Lowy also said that local Assembly Member Joan Millman had provided a letter in support of the project. (read more…)

Current facade of 165 Columbia Heights. Credit: Google.

The Commission expressed concerns over proposal but approved reconstruction of building’s long-stuccoed brick facade. On February 26, 2013 the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to approve a proposal to reconstruct the facade of an 1880s carriage house at 165 Columbia Heights in the Brooklyn Heights Historic District. The two-story structure, converted to residential use in the early 20th century, had its original brick facade covered with stucco in the 1930s. The building is owned by the George and Anita Driscoll Feiger Living Trust, which purchased the property from the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization in 2012.

Architect Ann Krsul of Krsul + Viederman Architects, presented the proposal, which she said would restore the building to its historic condition. The plan is to remove the front facade and reconstruct it without stucco, using salvaged brick from the original facade, if possible. Krsul explained that the original brick beneath the stucco had been scarified so the material would better adhere, so they hope to use the reverse side of the bricks on the building’s face. If the existing brick proves to be unsalvageable, the applicants intend to use salvaged bricks from another site to maintain the historic quality or use commercial brick closely matching the original. The brick detailing of the original facade would be retained, using the original brick, as Krsul believed the ornamental features were not scarified. In response to the Commissioners’ questions, Krsul stated that conservators from Highbridge Materials Consulting and 2 ARTS Conservation would assist in the brick’s restoration. The applicants would also seek to recreate the era’s original mortar recipe for the new facade’s mortar and pointing. Steel window frames in the front facade would be replaced with wood, as they were originally.

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