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June 5, 2008
LPC super delay in review
Has anyone else had to wait over 2 months for LPC to approve their project? The only thing that should concern them is changing the windows on the facade which we are replacing with Marvins Landmark windows. We have waited over 2 months and losing so much money without these permits. We are thinking of going down to the LPC office and talking to the examiner. Has anyone done this? We are pretty desperate.
Comments
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Posted by: guest at June 6, 2008 8:22 AM
There are certain things you can do without a permit, like demo work. You can start and take the chance, hoping that your neighbors don't complain. Very common in brownstone Brooklyn. LPC primarily cares about the outside.
You can call them or look on their website and find out specifically won't you can or can not do. LPC is very nit picky and they don't care that you have bills to pay in the meantime.
Posted by: guest at June 6, 2008 9:20 AM
It took us over a year to get approval for our Marvin windows in a landmark district. It all depends on who is reviewing your application. If their initial is J, start calling him every day.
Posted by: guest at June 6, 2008 10:33 AM
2 months is short. And if you push them it will likely only make the process longer.
Posted by: guest at June 6, 2008 10:58 AM
What makes you think you have a right to do anything to your own house? Just because you are the ones paying the mortgage doesn't mean squat. Don't you realize other people have to see your house when they walk by it. Shouldn't they be able to look at it as if it were a time capsule? How selfish of you.
Posted by: guest at June 6, 2008 11:14 AM
two months is a "super" delay?
Did you not know you were landmarked??
Posted by: guest at June 6, 2008 11:35 AM
I had been surprised. My contractor filed to do some sidewalk work in April and it took until yesterday to get the landmark's permit. The bottom line on their commentary didn't tell us anything we didn't know or weren't planning to do: keep the exisiting bluestone, any concrete to be replaced should be tinted to match the bluestone. All the neighbor's houses have only sparse bluestone, and the landmark district ends at the edge of my backyard, so I think little, if any, enhanced visual pleasure will be generated.
I am so totally loving this since I wouldn't have been undertaking any sidewalk work at all if DEP hadn't come along and busted a sizeable section of it when they replaced a leaking fire hydrant.
Posted by: guest at June 6, 2008 1:17 PM
"Did you not know you were landmarked??"
No! I can't imagine the OP didn't know that! Duh. We know we're landmarked and I had no clue it took this long for approval from LPC. No clue.
Why would I? We haven't done any facade work yet. Judgemental and smug much, 11:35?
If LPC is okay with being a badly run organization then I guess it's up to them. But if it were me, I think I'd create a little thing called a...
w e b s i t e
Newfangled thing, don't know if anybody has ever heard of it. But the LPC could put all kinds of information on it for homeowners. Like you know, to be helpful. Were that actually part of their goal beyond being historic house nazis.
Posted by: guest at June 6, 2008 2:38 PM
2:35:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/html/home/home.shtml
It's a little thing called...
g o o g l e
Newfangled thing, don't know if you ever heard of it.
Posted by: guest at June 6, 2008 3:10 PM
The Landmarks Commission is becoming more dysfunctional by the day.
The delays and the red tape and the ridiculous requirements are strong inducements to just ignore the whole process. especially since they have no teeth. nothing has happened to the people on my block who put in ugly picture windows but those of us who apply to install the expensive "correct" units are made to beg and jump through hoops. especially by some of the more sadistic and unhappy staffers.
Posted by: guest at June 6, 2008 3:43 PM
They don't give ANY of the information that people always come and ask here over and over time and again about LPC, 3:10. That was my point. Their current site is useless. It's not really what I'd provide at all.
They need a much more helpful homeowner-friendly section with FAQs.
Posted by: guest at June 6, 2008 3:54 PM
The LPC Preservationists see the owners of properties as the enemy. they are the ones who want to modernize and alter the precious fabric for nothing more important than their family's comfort and safety.
Posted by: guest at June 6, 2008 4:16 PM
Two months is in the range of normal. Yes, LPC is backed up - the number of applications is way up, and the number of reviewers hasn't changed in years.
Who filed the plans? Marvin? Your contractor? Your architect?
What was filed - has LPC sent you a checklist asking for more information?
Yes, you can LPC and talk to the reviewer. Ask what material is missing, where it is the queue, etc. Be nice.
BTW - the "Landmarks" in Marvin Landmarks window is meaningless. LPC is looking to see that the Marvin windows match YOUR historic windows. If ANY window manufacturer tells you their windows are "pre-approved" by LPC, they are lying. They might have been approved by LPC on another building, but that's another building. (And I'm not saying that's what Marvin is doing - they make nice windows, and the make nice landmark windows.)
The LPC site does have FAQs which tells you what you can and can't do at staff level (without going to public hearing). (Its on the left side of the home page.)
The most relevant FAQ is probably the one which tells you what you and do not a permit for: http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/html/faqs/faq_permit.shtml
They also have detailed rules about the same.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/downloads/pdf/pubs/rules.pdf
(warning - that's a pdf link)
That's from the section "Forms & Publications" (also listed right on the front page).
Posted by: WBer at June 6, 2008 4:21 PM
typing too fast - I meant to say:
Yes, you can CALL LPC and talk to the reviewer. Ask what material is missing, where it is IN the queue, etc. Be nice.
Posted by: WBer at June 6, 2008 4:23 PM
I had to have windows replaced. I filed all the paperwork ect., delivered by hand to their office and heard nary a word. So we went ahead and did the work. Heard from them about a year or more later. That was it. Other folk on the block do whatever they have to do without regard to meeting landmarks specifications. Nothing ever seems to happen, except one lady had to replace her doors.
Posted by: guest at June 6, 2008 5:55 PM
Yes just go ahead and do whatever you want, all the neighbors do it anyway. A few years from now the neighborhood will look terrible and property prices will decline. Good luck!
Posted by: guest at June 6, 2008 6:25 PM
You are "desperate" after two months? You are kidding right?
Posted by: guest at June 6, 2008 7:51 PM
when we installed our "landmarks approved" Marvin windows, LPC took about 2 months (maybe less) to issue a permit. As soon as we ordered the windows, we submitted our application to LPC because our window contractor told us our windows would arrive about when LPC would issue our permit. There was a little glitch involving a tiny mismeasurement on our drawings which our LPC reviewer guided me through. I got the feeling that LPC was really glad that we were replacing our aluminum clad windows with wooden ones -- the wooden windows also uncovered some of the original wood moldings surrounding the windows. Our before pictures that we submitted to LPC were hideous -- so maybe they wanted to move things along for us (??). I would definitely follow up with an e-mail or telephone call to see if someone has been assigned to review your application. what's the harm?
Posted by: guest at June 6, 2008 8:49 PM
Call to find out who it's assigned to and then call this person every single week. They typically have to come out to the site to see your property before they make a ruling. It's the summer, so people go on vacation.
Posted by: guest at June 7, 2008 4:00 PM
"You are "desperate" after two months? You are kidding right?"
What if an owner was trying to do some updates in advance of selling? Then what? Are YOU kidding?? A two month wait is absolutely a hardship when you're getting ready to sell. Gimme a break.
The complete inability of preservationists to have even one iota of understanding of practical concerns, or any empathy for homeowners is ridiculous. It's gross.
Posted by: guest at June 7, 2008 4:03 PM
if you can divide the job into items that need and do not need LPC approval and file the second lot seperately to get a permit, you can get that in days. then you can file the rest as an amendment to the permit. It'll cost you a couple of thousand in fees but you will have a permit in hand and can start working. if you do a little more or less than is on the permit app you shouldn't have any trouble. by the time you get the landmarks permit you'll be able to amend the filing and all paperwork will be in order.
Posted by: guest at June 9, 2008 11:22 AM
Great tips regarding dealing with the LPC!
A related question..
Does anyone have some quotes for installing (labour & materials) of landmark windows?
We are in brooklyn and need about 4-6 windows need replacing on every floor.
Any advice on this in terms of quotes and also people you'd recommend to do the job would be amazing!
thank you.
Posted by: mooncake at June 15, 2008 9:46 PM
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