Landmark Balusters
Dear Brownstoners, This is our first posting in this forum, we thought we might get a good idea on how to solve our problem with the help of the collective experience in this group. We have a brownstone in a landmarked district that has a violation related to the front stoop. Basically the original balusters…
Dear Brownstoners,
This is our first posting in this forum, we thought we might get a good idea on how to solve our problem with the help of the collective experience in this group. We have a brownstone in a landmarked district that has a violation related to the front stoop. Basically the original balusters disappeared decades ago, and we need to replace them with balusters that match those of the house next door. (pictures attached). There are no similar balusters commercially available and no other such balusters in any home we have ever seen except the one next door. So far the cast iron and aluminum estimates we have gotten have been in the 15K range and involve temporarily removing two balusters from our neighbors’ stoop in order to make the casts. We are looking to see what other materials and methods may be more economical… we have been thinking fiberglass but have not gotten responses from any of the fiberglass places we have emailed. Any recommendations on good, reliable, fiberglass companies or thoughts about other materials, or any other solution to our problem? Can Landmarks just make you pay any amount to fix a violation or will they work with you to do something in a reasonable price range (e.g. accept a substitution with a commercially available baluster.) Thanks!
$15K sounds ballpark reasonable for custom castings. The molds are the expensive part, and they can easily be 2/3 the total cost. Each individual unit (after the first one) is relatively inexpensive. It may be possible to take a cast of the neighbors balusters without removing them, so that is some savings.
What you really need to see is the photo that LPC took at the time of designation. If the balusters are there, they were removed illegally, and the violation is valid (even if it is unfair that YOU are getting, not a previous owner). Also see if you can find any other old photos that might show the building prior to designation (1980s or 1940s tax photos are a good place to start).
If Vinca is right and you haven’t yet spoken with anyone from LPC, that really should be your first step. Luckily I’ve never had a violation, but neighbors who have tell me that LPC can be far more accommodating than you might imagine. If you do phone, I’d suggest approaching the staff member as a preservationist who really wants to help, rather than a mindless bureaucrat who wants to make things difficult. IMO the former description [helpful preservationist] is likely to be the most accurate, but, if you start with the latter assumption and get someone upset that’s just what you might get. Be positive.
bridgesandpowerlines – before you make yourself crazy, you need to talk with someone at LPC.
Try the scrap iron yards too.
“Exhibit A against landmarking- a homeowner being forced to pay $15K when they already have fine and contextual looking balusters. ”
LPC cannot force him to pay $15K for balusters.
bridgesandpowerlines – you can search for the designation report here.
http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/designation_reports/
If you are lucky enough to live in a newly designated district the reports have a description of each house including alterations.
Exhibit A against landmarking- a homeowner being forced to pay $15K when they already have fine and contextual looking balusters.
What Bob Marvin and Mongoose1 said, but there’s much about your post that I’m either not following or does not make sense. Among these, the history of alleged violation, whether it showed on your title search, when and how it came to your attention (warning, notice to cure, etc.), whether you (or previous owner) attended a hearing and/or contested the violation, and the basis upon which LPC specified the replacement, etc. I have the impression from your post that you have not met or spoken with anyone at LPC. This is LPC’s FAQ about enforcement, including a contact number: http://bit.ly/hdPBGf
This link is one source for architectural iron that might already have castings of your baluster (if they truly need replacing): http://bit.ly/hRt4HQ
Also… why do you “have” to do it? The LPC Violation doesn’t have any teeth.
Go back and read the Designation Report for your address and see if it mentions that the original balusters were already missing. It worked for me and the violation was dismissed.