Replacing Landmark Exterior Door - Cobble Hill
We need to replace our exterior door on a landmarked block of Cobble Hill.
Any tips for the landmark application process? I was planning to submit on my own now because I see it lasts 4 years. However now I see you need to supply a sample of the color and material with the application.
Recommendations on where to purchase door and installers? We need the entire door area redone – replacing a single door with double door, window above, etc.
jodileone
in Exteriors 9 years ago
14
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14 replies
BobMarvin | 9 years ago
All it [landmarking] has done is create a Disneyland for trust funders, Euro trash, and the 1% oligarchy”
Damned few of those types in my neighborhood, or any other central Brooklyn Historic District. OTOH, the REBNY, which exists to cater to said characters is one of the biggest enemies of Historic Districts. Go figure!
BobMarvin | 9 years ago
“a non landmarks approved door is not going to lower anyone’s property value”
MAYBE not Randolph, but I’ve seen some monstrous doors, a whole row of which would undoubtably have that effect. There’s far worse one could do to an historic house that would lower your neighbor’s value, as well as your own. LPC came after the idiot who did a DIY jackhammer removal of his stoop on a block near me a couple of years ago and made him restore it. Also, I’m sure that if you looked hard enough you could find a contractor who’d install pink permastone, stainless steel railings, and aluminum door hoods. :-).
jcm | 9 years ago
The LPC website has a brochure that addresses row house replacement windows, doors, facades, cornices, etc. It will give you an idea of what you should or shouldn’t do.
tvnvda | 9 years ago
First you need to determine whether the existing door is, in fact, the historic door. If it is, you’ll need to first prove that it needs to be replaced, and either fully restore/repair it or replace it with an exact match.
If it’s NOT the historic door, you need to search for a photo of the original (tax photo, designation photo, etc..). If a good photo the old door cannot be found, you’re free to specify/design a door that is “appropriate” to the historic style of the house. Many brownstones in Brookyn were built as sets, so looking to see if a neighbor has THEIR historic door in place is a good bet too. Though be sure that they got a permit for their door replacement, or you might get them in trouble!!!
randolph | 9 years ago
> @ianmac47
> create a Disneyland
well said.
randolph | 9 years ago
> @BobMarvin
> lower their neighbor’s property values
a non landmarks approved door is not going to lower anyone’s property value.
ianmac47 | 9 years ago
Actually, Glarph, because certain neighborhoods have artificially reduced available housing by limiting density and preserving the views of a few rich people, particularly in neighborhoods with access to the best transportation, best public parks, and best public schools, I for one think we should dismantle many of the powers of the Landmarks commission. All it has done is create a Disneyland for trust funders, Euro trash, and the 1% oligarchy while increasing the rent burden of the city’s most marginalized populations, particularly communities of color.
BobMarvin | 9 years ago
Not a bad idea Murph, but extremely expensive if you use a local craftsperson and the logistics of having a door made in Central America might be a bit daunting for most people. In any case, if you’re going to all that trouble why not file with Landmarks? Something like this could be approved pretty quickly at the staff level.
BobMarvin | 9 years ago
“the fact that a panel of 11 unelected NIMBYs gets to tell you what kind of door you can put on your house is beyond absurd”–Hardly, especially in row house neighborhoods. It prevents thoughtless homeowners from doing things that lower their neighbor’s property values.
murph | 9 years ago
Get the Tax Photo from 1939-40 and copy what was there back then. Share the photo with a draftsman who can use it and measurements of any similar doorways on your block to draw up a sketch for some carpenter here or in Central America to produce. A lot of doors in Oaxaca, Mexico, look like imitations I’ve seen in Park Slope.
Get it, paint it black and just keep quiet about it.
glarph | 9 years ago
I have found Landmarks to be cumbersome but ultimately accommodating to work with. I’m sure you are benefitting from living in a landmarked district–your neighborhood density will remain stable, your view will never be obstructed, your block will stay human scale. Why not respect that covenant by following the rules?
ianmac47 | 9 years ago
Or just skip the bureaucracy, replace it with something appropriate, and hope nobody reports you to Landmarks.
randolph | 9 years ago
from the LPC web site:
“The agency is comprised of a panel of 11 commissioners who are appointed by the Mayor and supported by a staff of approximately 67 preservationists, researchers, architects, historians, attorneys, archaeologists and administrative employees.”
the fact that a panel of 11 unelected NIMBYs gets to tell you what kind of door you can put on your house is beyond absurd.
resident2 | 9 years ago
Before approaching the landmarks commission, work out exactly what you want. There are some good ready made wooden doors these days that depending on the vintage/style of your house and the matching door, the landmarks commission may approve. I have never heard of Landmarks approving anything other than solid wood doors. Most people end up restoring what they already have because it is often the most economical way to go, rather than getting into a battle with Landmarks and the lack of ready made doors that they may or may not approve. But yes you need to send specifications of the door, color charts & samples, drawings of moldings, hardware etc.
But another word of warning, just because you get a permit from Landmarks that maybe good for four years, does not mean that the personnel you will be dealing with will not change the intention….. so it is best to do the work immediately to avoid the personnel changes and changes needed….