HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-ILPC-2010-05-11Approved by ILPC – 06/08/10
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Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission
Minutes – May 11, 2010
Present:
Ed Finegan
Susan Jones
David Kramer
Sylvia Sheret Newman
Susan Stein
Ellen McCollister, Common Council Liaison
Leslie Chatterton, Staff
Megan Gilbert, Staff
Acting Chair S. Stein called the meeting to order at 5:33 pm and read the legal notice for the
public hearing.
I. PUBLIC HEARING
A. 408 East State/East Martin Luther King Jr. Street, East Hill Historic District –
proposal for temporary accessory building
Danielle Swift was present to address the Commission regarding the proposal. She is
proposing to construct a temporary, seasonal structure that will be 49 square feet with a
height of 8 feet at the peak of the roof. The proposal also includes landscaping around
the structure and a few picnic tables for customers. D. Swift will be able to assemble and
deconstruct the structure and may even move the structure in the fall.
E. Finegan asked if the business would return next year. D. Swift stated that, if the
business goes well, she would like to open again but likely in a different location. For
this year, the temporary structure will be placed in a large parking lot at 408 East State
Street. It is anticipated that construction will be underway at this location next year so a
new site will be necessary.
D. Kramer noted that he is not familiar with proposals that will occur on a property that is
not owned by the person that is proposing the alteration. D. Swift responded that she is
renting the property from owner Avi Smith, and he is supportive of the idea.
S. Sheret Newman asked about electrical service and drainage. D. Swift stated that the
shaved ice machine will be run off of two batteries. The snowballs are made to order and
produce limited drainage so a five-gallon bucket will be used to collect any excess water.
A small freezer will also be used to store the ice for the machine.
Public Hearing
On a motion by S. Jones, seconded by D. Kramer, Acting Chair S. Stein opened the
public hearing. There being no one to address the Commission, the public hearing was
closed on a motion by S. Jones, seconded by D. Kramer.
RESOLUTION: Moved by D. Kramer, seconded by S. Sheret Newman
WHEREAS, 408 East Martin Luther King Street, also known as the McCormick-
Cowdry House, is located in the East Hill Historic District as designated
under Section 228-3 and 228-4 of the Municipal Code, and
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May 11, 2010
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WHEREAS, as set forth in Section 228-4(E) of the Municipal Code, an application for
a Certificate of Appropriateness as submitted by Danielle Swift for review
by the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission, (ILPC), and
WHEREAS, the action under consideration is the installation of a newly-
constructed, temporary accessory structure on a portion of the
asphalt parking area shown on the site plan sketches submitted by
the applicant to be adjacent to the east side of the McCormick
Cowdry house and facing East Martin Luther King Street.
WHEREAS, the project is a Type II Action under the New York State Environmental
Quality Review Act and the City Environmental Quality Review
Ordinance for which no further environmental review is required, and
WHEREAS, the ILPC has reviewed the documentation dated May 3, 2010 submitted by
the applicant, including the application form, a sketch site plan of the
property showing the location of the proposed structure, two elevations
and a plan of the structure, a more detailed and enlarged site plan, and a
conceptual sketch of the south/front façade of 408 Martin Luther King
Street showing the temporary accessory structure, a conceptual sketch of
the proposed structure, a specification for the proposed corrugated roof
material, an image showing similar size/scale buildings, and other material
including the New York State Building and Structure Inventory Form and
the City of Ithaca East Hill Historic District Summary Statement, 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, a public hearing for the purpose of considering approval of a Certificate of
Appropriateness was conducted at the regularly scheduled ILPC meeting
on May 11, 2010, and
WHEREAS, as identified in the City of Ithaca’s East Hill Historic District Summary
Statement East Hill the period of significance for the area now known as
the East Hill Historic District is identified in the City of Ithaca’s as 1820-
1930.
WHEREAS, known as the McCormick or Cowdry Homestead, the house was
constructed c.1831 by Jacob McCormick, a wealthy and influential
business man who involved himself in many aspects of Ithaca’s early
development and was elected president of the village, and
WHEREAS, the building is architecturally significant as a high style example of the
Greek Revival style and for the accretion of Italiante and Colonial Revival
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May 11, 2010
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style features over the course of the 19th and early 20th centuries that have
acquired their own significance, and
WHEREAS, the residence is historically significant for its association with Jacob
McCormick, already noted, and second owner Adam Cowdry who was
also a wealthy businessman, an active participant in Ithaca’s civic life and
a former president of the village, and
WHEREAS, the proposal involves the installation of a small accessory building,
49 square feet and seven feet tall, on the property for the purpose
of operating a seasonal retail business. The building will be
removed from its proposed location in late summer or early fall,
and
WHEREAS, the ILPC has made the following findings of fact concerning the
property and the proposal:
In consideration of this and all approvals of proposals for
alterations, new construction or demolition in historic districts,
the ILPC must determine that the proposed exterior work will
not have a substantial adverse effect on the aesthetic, historical
or architectural significance and value of either the landmark
or, if the improvement is within a district, of the neighboring
improvements in such district. In considering architectural
and cultural value, the Commission shall consider whether the
proposed change is consistent with the historic value and the
spirit of the architectural style of the landmark or district in
accordance with Section 228-4E (1)(a) of the Municipal Code.
In making this determination the Commission is guided by the
Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and in
this case specifically the following Standards:
#9 New additions, exterior alterations, or related new
construction shall not destroy historic materials that
characterize the property. The new work shall be
differentiated from the old and shall be compatible with the
massing, size, scale, and architectural features to protect the
historic integrity of the property and its environment.
#10 New additions and adjacent or related new construction
shall be undertaken in such a manner that if removed in the
future, the essential form and integrity of the historic property
and its environment would be unimpaired.
With reference to Standard #9, as described in the May 3rd
application materials, the seven-foot tall, 49 square foot accessory
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building is freestanding and will not destroy historic materials that
characterize the property.
With reference to Standard #9, sketches accompanying the May 3rd
application materials show that its design and materials will
differentiate the proposed new building from the historic
architectural character of the McCormick- Cowdry house and other
properties in the East Hill Historic District.
With reference to Standard #9, the proposed new building is small
in size and modest in design. As shown in sketched elevations and
views that accompany the application, the proposed building is
diminished in size and scale by contrast to the large, three- story,
generously proportioned McCormick-Cowdry house shown in
photographs on the New York State Building & Structure
Inventory form, reviewed by the ILPC. The proposed new
structure is not incompatible in massing, size, scale, and
architectural features and thus protective of the integrity,
prominence and significance of the McCormick–Cowdry house.
With reference to Standard #10, as described in the May 3rd
application, the building will house a seasonal business and is
designed to be removed from site at the close of the season. The
building is freestanding and when removed, the essential form and
integrity of the historic property and its environment will be
unimpaired.
WHEREAS, the proposal will not have a substantial adverse effect on the aesthetic,
historical, or architectural significance of the East Hill Historic District, as
set forth in Section 228-4E(1)(a), 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 ILPC approves the application for a Certificate of Appropriateness
with the following condition:
The approval of this proposal shall have a duration of one year.
RECORD OF VOTE: 5-0-0
Yes
E. Finegan
S. Jones
D. Kramer
S. Sheret Newman
S. Stein
No
0
Abstain
0
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May 11, 2010
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II. PLEASURE OF THE CHAIR
A. Administrative Matters
Staff stated that the Commission will need to elect a new Chair and Vice-Chair at the
next meeting.
B. Communications
None
C. Public Comment on Matters of Interest
None
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – April 13, 2010
On a motion by D. Kramer, seconded by S. Sheret Newman, the minutes from the April 13,
2010 meeting were approved unanimously without correction.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
A. Application to Preserve New York Grant program of the Preservation League of New
York State to fund research and documentation for a proposed Henry St. John Historic
District.
Staff distributed a memorandum to the City’s Planning & Economic Development
Committee about this grant application. The packet also includes information about the
rehabilitation tax credit program. Staff reported that the Common Council has voted to
provide a $3,000 match if the grant application is funded. The application is due on May
17, 2010, and it is hoped that Historic Ithaca could be engaged to prepare the
documentation.
B. Telluride House, Cornell Campus – request by SHPO for comments from ILPC on
proposed National Register nomination
Staff explained that the state office asks local commissions for a report on a proposed
nomination and in the past, the ILPC has submitted a resolution supporting the
nomination.
RESOLUTION: Moved by S. Sheret Newman, seconded by D. Kramer
WHEREAS, in its capacity as a New York State Certified Local Government as
designated in 1986 by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and
Historic Preservation (PARKS), the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation
Commission (ILPC) is required to participate in the nomination process
for the Telluride House, 217 West Avenue, currently under consideration
for nomination to the State and National Registers of Historic Places by
the New York State Historic Preservation Review Board, and
WHEREAS, the ILPC is specifically asked to prepare a report stating whether or not, in
its opinion, the property meets the criteria for listing on the NY State and
National Registers and that the city’s chief elected official, Mayor Carolyn
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Peterson, shall transmit the Commission’s report and her recommendation
to the State Historic Preservation Office, and
WHEREAS, the ILPC has considered the nomination at the regular meeting held on
May 11, 2010, the agenda for which is routinely posted in City Hall in
advance of the meeting, and
WHEREAS, documentation reviewed by the ILPC includes the letter dated April 18,
sent from Ruth Pierpont, Director of the Historic Preservation Field
Services Bureau at PARKS, and accompanying material from PARKS
including the National and State Registers Criteria for Evaluation, and the
draft National Register of Historic Places Registration form completed by
Anthony Opalka with PARKS, and
WHEREAS, of the four criteria listed, the nomination has been proposed under criteria
A and C as follows:
A. Property is associated with events that have made a significant
contribution to the broad patterns of our history.
C. Property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period,
or method of construction, or represents the work of a master, or possesses
high artistic values or represents a significant and distinguishable entity
whose components lack individual distinction.
WHEREAS, the ILPC concurs with Section 8 of the draft National Register of Historic
Places Registration form, Statement of Significance and specifically the
statements
“Telluride House at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, is
significant under Criterion A as an organization founded for the
purposes of encouraging young men to pursue careers in technical
fields, particularly engineering. It is one of only three Telluride
Association facilities in the United States…
This success allowed Mr. Nun to turn his attention to his
continuing interest in educating young people. In 1890 he began a
program of combined work and technical study for promising
young men who worked for his power company. This evolved into
the Telluride Institute, through which Nunn introduced a broader
and more formal curriculum and gradually established branches at
his power stations throughout the West.”
WHEREAS, in making a determination about whether Criterion A has been met the
ILPC has noted the following:
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The Telluride House is first associated with events that have made a
significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history, through its
association with founder Lucien Nunn whose program of educating young
men in his employ with a program of combined work and technical study
evolved into the Telluride Institute.
As stated in the nomination, “Telluride House on the Cornell campus has
hosted many prominent scholars, authors, politician, scientists, and other
luminaries some as students at Cornell, many others as long-term residents
engaged in important work.” Among the most noteworthy were Frances
Perkins, Linus Pauling, Barber Conable, Richard Feynman, Francis
Fukuyama and Paul Wolfowitz. Other notable guests have included Dr. J.
Robert Oppenheimer; Woody Guthrie; social theorist Jacques Derrida;
novelist and journalist William Vollman; and composer Francis Poulenc.
These are among the people associated with events that have made a
significant contribution to the broad patterns that have shaped our history.
(Criterion A.),
WHEREAS, the ILPC concurs with Section 8 of the draft National Register of Historic
Places Registration form, Statement of Significance and specifically the
statement
“It is also significant under Criterion C. as an outstanding example of a
building that combined the many currents of early twentieth-century
American architecture…”
WHEREAS, in making a determination about whether Criterion C has been met the
ILPC has noted and concurs with the following statements from the
prepared nomination:
“The Telluride House is an outstanding example of early-twentieth-
century architecture that combines influences of many architectural trends
in the United States during the opening years of the twentieth century…”
“ The building integrates architectural features along with furniture, tile,
and light fixtures to create a cohesive environment that expresses the
aesthetic of the early twentieth century. “
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the ILPC finds that the documentation
in the draft National Register nomination form demonstrates that the
Telluride House at 217 West Avenue meets criteria for listing on the New
York State and National Registers of Historic Places, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the ILPC recommends the listing of the Telluride House on the New
York State and National Registers of Historic Places.
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RECORD OF VOTE: 5-0-0
Yes
E. Finegan
S. Jones
D. Kramer
S. Sheret Newman
S. Stein
No
0
Abstain
0
V. OLD BUSINESS
None
VI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 6:27 p.m. by Acting Chair S.
Stein.
Respectfully Submitted,
Leslie A. Chatterton, Secretary
Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission