Can i put a Rooftop garden on a landmark brownstone?

I have a landmark brownstone in fort greene, and would like to put a roof deck on it plus railing all around for safety. I know that Landmarks take issue with anything you can see from the street, but does anyone know of any examples where it has been done/approved? I would consider glass at the front to make this railing near “invisible”. Also, I’ve heard that you can only deck 20% of the roof area as a fire regulation.. Is this true? Can I use non-combustible materials and do the full 100%? if anyone has any info, experience or knows of any examples I would really appreciate it Many thanks!!!

mbw

in Architecture 13 years and 8 months ago

4

Please log in, in order to post replies!

4 replies

Newest Oldest

raddes | 13 years and 8 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4937 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4894 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "44324"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(6) "raddes"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(6) "raddes"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(18) "radkurek@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(48) "http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forums/users/raddes/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2010-02-11 00:49:52"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(6) "raddes"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(44324)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Above stated is true, whenever I had that type of situation on project , we had to do either mock-up showing new structure – then LPC representative was scheduled to check if it is visible from near corners, or for some larger structures,  a 3D rendering had to be produced to visualise new addition. (that in case you w’d consider adding for example Greenhouse on the roof . But they are not that trerrible to work with.

AnArchitect | 13 years and 8 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4936 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4935 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "89402"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(11) "AnArchitect"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$B1nP7yyKJcLDOOq69fypmL4oqEIQUM."
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(11) "anarchitect"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(24) "acortes@agenciegroup.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(26) "/forums/users/anarchitect/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:36:11"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(11) "AnArchitect"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(89402)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I suggest you schedule a meeting at LPC to meet with a preservationist to discuss the issue.  They’re often willing to work with you on possible solutions, without making an explicit reccommendation.  Your idea to use a tempered or shatter resistant glass is interesting.  Wrt coverage, you are able to do entire floor area in non-combustible material.  You may have other issues however with how you show access to the roof relative to your means of egress on the top floor below, as it relates to CO of the house.

dazednconfused2 | 13 years and 8 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4932 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4938 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "209624"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(15) "dazednconfused2"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BghKLTB3pwiNsI5BhQ/fSb/bBQWxiL0"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(15) "dazednconfused2"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(22) "un.perceived@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2024-07-04 18:01:21"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(15) "dazednconfused2"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(209624)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

What Jock said is correct.  I’d add to it that you can cover more than 20% of the roof if using non-combstible material.  In some cases, you might even be able to get a visible railing approved if you can provide examples of similar existing conditions nearby.

jockdeboeraia | 13 years and 8 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4937 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4939 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "40876"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(13) "jockdeboeraia"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BTfkV3DGGseot8oNyuG6kVhsNhUD2n1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(13) "jockdeboeraia"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(22) "jdeboer@jockdeboer.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(31) "/forums/users/deboerarchitects/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:15:51"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(20) "VK4zWrfWbTPHLfSSlGZI"
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(13) "jockdeboeraia"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(40876)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Glass would still be seen and would be an issue, what I do is drop the deck far enough back so that it cannot be seen from the street.