Slopers Support Expansion of Historic District
There were no naysayers at the Community Board 6 hearing for the expansion of the Park Slope Historical District last night, so the proposal moves onto the Landmarks Preservation Commission for a public hearing on October 26th. Members of the Park Slope Civic Council took the opportunity to advocate for the plan and area homeowners…
There were no naysayers at the Community Board 6 hearing for the expansion of the Park Slope Historical District last night, so the proposal moves onto the Landmarks Preservation Commission for a public hearing on October 26th. Members of the Park Slope Civic Council took the opportunity to advocate for the plan and area homeowners were equally enthusiastic. One issue that came up a lot at the meeting, though, was the frustration over new developments in the neighborhood. “New real estate projects contribute nothing to Park Slope and dock thousands of dollars off your home,” said one homeowner. Another said, “I never thought I’d be walking past soulless buildings in my neighborhood.” Councilman Steve Levin also made an appearance and commented, “They don’t make buildings like they used to. I’d be surprised to see the buildings on 4th Avenue last another 50 years.” Ouch! If all goes according to plan, the expansion will be voted on sometime in 2011. Then it’ll be time to focus on Phase Two of the expansion, which would extend the current historical district to Flatbush Avenue.
arch tect, we’re replacing some windows in coop, LPC approved ones for the parlor floor are running $6K a piece, we’ve got 8.
Didn’t think of that, Delepp. That was pretty rude.
Here’s the kind of conversation I’m NOT looking forward to in the future:
Potential Client Living in Extended Historic District: “Hi. My wife and I would really like to finally add on to our brownstone. We know that we have enough FAR to put on a rear addition AND add a floor. We’d also like to finally replace those leaky and drafty wood windows in the front with some energy efficient aluminum clad windows. Our contractor has put a preliminary price together for all of that work and we think we have enough saved up.”
Arch_tect: “Um. Okay. Did you know that the Landmarks Preservation Commission now has to review every aspect of your renovation and give the okay?
PCLEHD: “No. What do you mean? We live in a Brownstone. We are not building a new building. We just want to add onto our quaint, charming, and very historic home. What has to be approved by the LPC?”
Arch_tect: “You know that addition on the top you want? LPC might not allow it.”
PCLEHD: “Why not? We are allowed by zoning to build up. We need another bedroom for our kid. We’ve always been told we can do this!”
Arch_tect: “That doesn’t matter. LPC may not allow it. It has to be reviewed and approved. They may feel that the character of the street might be altered if you build this addition.”
PCLEHD: “What about the rear extension? They can’t possible care about that? Can they? No one will even see it.”
Arch_tect: “Um. Well, unfortunately, they do care. In what material were you planning on building the extension?”
PCLEHD: “The simplest and cheapest. Steel frame and exterior stucco. It’s really all we can afford.”
Arch_tect: “Um. Well, LPC may not like that. You may have to use masonry at the very least, and sometimes you are required to get a very rare historical brick to clad the facade.”
PCLEHD: “Huh? You’re kidding, right?”
Arch_tect: “Um, no. And those windows…well, the LPC will need to approve the color and material and the look cannot vary too far from the existing ones.”
PCLEHD: “Are you telling me that if I want to get some windows that are more energy efficient than my rotting, 60 year old windows, LPC has to approve this??? I have the sinking feeling that I’m not going to be able to afford any of this nor get the space I need.”
Arch_tect: “Oh. Just one other thing. In order to get an approval, we have to make a special presentation to the LPC with renderings, 3-D models, a presentation model of your house + the houses around you, contextual drawings, possibly a historical report, get tax lot photos, (…PCLEHD’s eyes begin to glaze over….yadda, yadda, yadda) and finally, you have to attend a community board hearing, a public LPC hearing and meeting where members of the community may voice opposition to what you want to do.”
PCLHED: “Oh…(silence)
Arch_tect: “And by the way. We have to charge extra for getting LPC approval in addition to producing the working drawings. We really can’t afford to eat that cost. It’s a lot of work and very unpredictable.”
PCLHED: “Oh…(more silence). Oh…”
Thanks all for the feedback.
crimsonson- go on a few house tours- you’ll see plenty of brownstones that haven’t been gut renovated. I was in an incredible home yesterday- sure the utilities were upgraded, but the majority of the interior is still intact and stunning.
Levin insults his constituents and he’s not a jerk? According to him they live in souless buildings that will fall down soon.
I’m sure he would rather have tax paying constituents than empty buildings?
Sounds like a delightful meeting.
oops “Also, anyone willing to give me a dumbed down elevator speech as to what this means?”
lech>What the hell are you going to do with a julian balcony, address the subjects of Carroll St every morning?
Unfortunately, it will mean 50-100% higher maintenance costs on your building. Especially for routine stuff like facade maintenance, stoop repair and sidewalk fixes. Best do major stuff before landmarking kicks in. Put in nice light fixtures and doorknobs also, they won’t let you choose them after the designation. Build that roof deck.
I’m all for landmarking where it means no tear downs, no stupid additions and, generally, respecting the neighborhood, but LPC is way beyond that.
No, 11217- typical. 🙂