Landmarks Preservation Commission and Window Bars
I replaced my straight, plain window bars with these almost 2 years ago. The building just received a letter that they are not compliant because I didn’t have a Landmarks permit. I can apply for a permit, but when I called Landmarks, they said that window bars with curves – such as the ones I…
I replaced my straight, plain window bars with these almost 2 years ago. The building just received a letter that they are not compliant because I didn’t have a Landmarks permit. I can apply for a permit, but when I called Landmarks, they said that window bars with curves – such as the ones I now have – would probably not be approved. When I mentioned that I see window bars in the neighborhood that curve out to accommodate air conditioners, the said those window bars do not comply with Landmarks standards either, and that Landmarks hasn’t sited those buildings. Has anyone had experience with Landmarks and window bar styles? My options are to apply for the permit and hope they legalize these, or have them removed, photograph the window with no bars, submit that to Landmarks and have the Letter to cure the violation removed. Then I start a new application and install plain, straight bars. I am trying to decide which route to take, remove and replace or convince Landmarks to let me keep these. Located in Cobble Hill. Any advice appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Good point. I failed to notice that these bars are just for decoration and really don’t function as security bars at all – they’d have to cover the entire window to do that. Still, they do look nice as decoration.
If I was going to break in to your house I would break the upper sash glass or use the fire escape to access the upper floor apartments. Thanks for the photo.
I believe what Montrose Morris was trying to say was that the LPC does not have the manpower to roam landmarked neighborhoods looking for violations. And they don’t- they have a very small staff. Montrose was not implying that LPC has no enforcement powers- it quite obviously does.
And homeowners also have the right to fight the ruling.
Vinnie’s Italian Ironworks, 38 Bergen St, Bklyn 718-857-1362
I think they had the bar shape, otherwise they are custom.
Where did you get those? Where they custom?
I’m not landmarked and have been looking for something EXACTLY like that so I can install window A/C’s on our first floor in the rear of the building.
Sorry you’re having a hard time of it with the LPC!!
It is tough to reconcile maintaining the 1890’s look of a facade with modern needs for AC and security.
Back then, they had awnings to cool buildings, and people died much younger of heart or pulmonary disease rather than live to be old with it. And, they didn’t have AC, so they had no other option.
As to security, while ground floor brownstones seem to have always been built with bars on the windows, they seemed not to worry about the upper windows, or doors. Maybe because someone was likely home when the windows were open – they had larger households, so the children, women and servants were around – maybe this scared away burglars. Now, we go to work all day and leave the home unattended.
Landmarks should come to understand that the modern needs for AC and security have to trump the 1890’s look. I like your bars. The problem is, it is very much in the eye of the beholder – I have seen some I wouldn’t like at all.
At least if landmarks set standards for what was acceptable for curved bars that allow window ACs, then people would know what to do to be in compliance with them. Saying that the curved bars that fit ACs aren’t acceptable isn’t really helpful.
And if they are OK with the square cages of straight bars that allow for window ACs (don’t know if they do), that’s just dumb, as neither is authentic from the 1890’s, and the square ones are so much uglier than the curved ones, which tend to look nice, as do yours.
If LPC wants to start handing out grants to install central AC so we don’t have to have window units, great.
Otherwise they need to get a grip on reality and shut up about it.
7:41, since MOST of the advice given on this, or any other forum, is anecdotal, at best, I hardly think you need to jump down my throat. If I am wrong, I apologise to the OP, but I was going by advice given to me by others who had dealt with LPC.
I still stand by my other advice to try to get them legalized by showing them photos of other houses in the neighborhood, and giving them more information than they could possibly need to argue your case. Perhaps crime stats, specifically break-ins in the neighborhood, a report of some kind from the local precinct extolling bars as a deterrent, or some such. I still find it hard to believe that they would ban security bars, or allow for curved ones. LPC people all live in the city, too. They know what is realistic and necessary.
Good luck to the OP.
MM
“When I mentioned that I see window bars in the neighborhood that curve out to accommodate air conditioners, the said those window bars do not comply with Landmarks standards either”
So Landmarks doesn’t allow people to have both security and an air conditioner at the same time??? Oh my god, please. It shows they believe the human population is such a lesser concern, that we should have severe health and safety risks inflicted on us just to comply to THEIR sense of aesthetics.
SICK. What obsessive uptight freaks, I’m sorry. I like pretty buildings too who doesn’t, but let’s all remember..
FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION
And come on, the OP’s building does not look bad at all!