HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-ILPC-2006-04-13Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission
April 13, 2006
Present:
Alphonse Pieper, Chair
Nancy Brcak, Vice Chair
Kristen Brennan
George Holets
Lynn Truame
Leslie Chatterton, Staff
Chair A. Pieper called the meeting to order at 7:04 pm and read the legal notices for the
public hearings.
I. PUBLIC HEARING
A. Edgecliff Place, Cornell Heights Historic District—proposed replacement of
failed concrete deck and step with wood deck and stairs.
On a motion by N. Brcak, seconded by L. Truame, Chair A. Pieper opened the
public hearing.
On a motion by K. Brennan, seconded by G. Holets, Chair A. Pieper closed the
public hearing.
RESOLUTION RA: On a motion by L. Truame, seconded by N. Brcak
WHEREAS, 934 Stewart Avenue is located in the Cornell Heights Historic District as
provided for in Section 228-4 of the Municipal Code, Landmarks
Preservation, and
WHEREAS, as set forth in Section 228-4(E) of the Municipal Code, Landmarks
Preservation, an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness has been
submitted by property owner Joseph Quigley, and
WHEREAS, the action under consideration is a proposal to replace the existing
concrete landing and stairs from the sidewalk adjacent to this
property providing access onto the property, and
WHEREAS, the purpose of the proposal is to remove the existing stairs,
considered unsafe by the Building Department and the owner’s
insurer, and to coordinate with work being undertaken by the City
to stabilize the retaining wall behind the proposed stairs, and
WHEREAS, the project is a Type II Action under the New York State Environmental
Quality Review Act and the City Environmental Quality Review
Ordinance and thus requires no further environmental review, and
WHEREAS, the ILPC has reviewed material submitted by J. Quigley, including a brief
narrative date stamped March 31, 2006 describing the proposal and four
photocopied photographs of the existing condition, and
WHEREAS, the applicant has provided sufficient documentation and information to
evaluate impacts of the proposal on the subject property and surrounding
properties, and
WHEREAS, following review of the application materials and conclusion of a
public hearing held on April 13, 2006, the ILPC has made the
following findings of fact concerning the property and the
proposal:
• The period of significance of the Cornell Heights Historic
District is 1898 – 1937.
• The apartments at 934 Stewart Avenue were constructed
between 1946 and 1956, outside the district’s period of
significance.
• The residence is a “non-contributing” element of the Cornell
Heights Historic District, meaning that it does not add to the
community’s understanding of the history, architecture or
significance of the Cornell Heights Historic District.
WHEREAS, in its evaluation the Commission has considered the following:
The origins of landscape features on the site of this non-
contributing building are not documented.
The existing stair is covered with concrete, which obscures the
appearance of the earlier stair.
The site of the apartment building is physically and visually
separated from the more densely settled area of Cornell Heights,
thus reducing the impact of the alteration on the historic district.
The stairs are below the grade of the sidewalk, further reducing
the visual impact on the historic district.
The proposal for the wood replacement stairs will not have a substantial
adverse effect on the aesthetic, historical or architectural significance and
value of the landmark/historic district and the proposed change is
consistent with the historic value and the spirit of the architectural style of
the landmark or district as set forth in Section 228-4E(1)(a) of the
Municipal Code, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission determines that the
proposal meets criteria for approval under Section 228-4E(1)(a) of the
Municipal Code, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Commission approves the request for a Certificate of
Appropriateness to remove the existing concrete stair and replace it with a
wood or wood composite deck and stairs, with the following conditions:
Staff shall review and approve construction drawings prior to the
issuance of an Alteration Permit.
RECORD OF VOTE: Carried 5-0-0
Yes
N. Brcak
K. Brennan
G. Holets
A. Pieper
L. Truame
No
0
Abstain
0
II. PLEASURE OF THE CHAIR
A. Administrative Matters
B. Public Comment on Matters of Interest
C. Communications
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
IV. OLD BUSINESS
A. Discussion of guidelines for review of replacement windows
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. Sibley Hall, Arts Quad Historic District—proposal for placement of two
additional air conditioner condensers
VI. ADJOURNMENT