Cobble Hill Neighbors Irked by Norah Jones' Windows
There’s a major brou-haha brewing on Amity Street, reports The Post, over Norah Jones’ plans to install ten new windows in the highly-visible side of her brownstone. The Cobble Hill Association is up in arms over both the fact and the way that the Grammy-Award-winning singer got approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission and charge…
There’s a major brou-haha brewing on Amity Street, reports The Post, over Norah Jones’ plans to install ten new windows in the highly-visible side of her brownstone. The Cobble Hill Association is up in arms over both the fact and the way that the Grammy-Award-winning singer got approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission and charge that the windows are both historically inconsistent and structurally dubious. According to the article, Jones made an went before LPC based upon an initial filing for some minor changes; they later amended the application with the request for the addition of the 10 double-hung windows on the side of the house but were not required to appear again for a public hearing. Jones’ neighbors are threatening a lawsuit, but Jones has rejected its overtures to discuss a compromise.
Neighbors Bash Norah’s Window-in-Brick Trick [NY Post]
Famous Musician in Cobble Hill WindowGate! [Curbed]
Norah Jones Steps Up in Cobble Hill [Brownstoner]
BC – read the Post article (yes, the post is poorly written, but the link is there!). Jones went before LPC at a public hearing for a permit in June; that work* was approved. “They” refers Jones and her reps, who subsequently went to the LPC staff to have the windows approved (as noted earlier, that is well within the staff’s purview to approve). “Its” is Cobble Hill Association, who actually made the overtures (according to the Post) – and according to the article, Jones wrote back to say that she had all her permits and that the work is not out of context, so I don’t think that qualifies as a complete “rejection” of their overtures.
*The Post says the original application was for interior work, which makes no sense, as that type of work usually doesn’t require a public hearing. If you look at the LPC calendar, the application was actually for rooftop mechanical equipment, rear yard excavation and to “alter the rear facade” – all work that might not be covered under staff rules.
Ha! Touche, broke developer, busted. I’m certainly not perfect and I was sure I would get flamed for something. I let most mistakes go (as I obviously make many), but find that paragraph to be seriously difficult to comprehend, it wasn’t just a typo here or there, I have no idea who a few of the “they” and “its” refer to.
Boerumresident, wouldn’t that only be unusual because there are so few homes with an exposed side?
Was this lot always part of the corner house or was something torn down once???
People in Cobble Hill deserve each other.
IIRC, she does not own the adjacent lot — that empty space is the back yard of the corner house.
Side windows would be great, but it would be unusual in the neighborhood to have side windows on a non-corner house. There might be a couple of examples, but I can’t think of any off the top of my head.
Have they nothing in place with which to catch that stuff before it goes to print?
Posted by: Nokilissa at November 16, 2009 11:36 AM
That would be an Apple.
Ha! Every time I see a typo like ‘noone’, I think of Fletch. Don’t ask me why.
I too had a tough time with that paragraph, bc. Had to read it twice. I try not to get irritated by it, but seriously. Have they nothing in place with which to catch that stuff before it goes to print?
LPC has rules for staff-level approval of new window openings on a visible secondary facade, so assuming that Norah’s windows meet those rules (which essentially require that the new openings form regular pattern and do not detract from architectural features on the primary facade), this is completely overblown.
CHA is blowing smoke when it says “Greek-revival buildings of your type do not have side windows”. Even if it were true, it’s irrelevant IF the windows meet the rules for a staff approval at LPC.
(According to the Post article, the adjacent property is owned by a co-op – not sure how that impacts lot-line window regulations, but that is for DOB, not LPC to determine.)
I want names! 🙂 Who are these greedy, self-entitled, a$$hat neighbors of hers?
At least with the lawsuit, their names will be known. And, their address! Let’s prepare by taking your dozen eggs out of the frig and letting it get rotten just right for the lawsuit happy, f&*(tards!
j/k? kinda of, but would be happy if it happend – the rotten eggs I mean.