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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-ILPC-2006-12-14 Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission Meeting Held December 14, 2006 Present: Alphonse Pieper, Chair Kristin Brennan Susan Stein Lynn Truame Joel Zumoff, Council Liaison Leslie Chatterton, Staff Absent: N. Brcak G. Holets Chair A. Pieper called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. and read the legal notices for the public hearings. I. PUBLIC HEARING A-1. 313 East Buffalo Street, East Hill Historic District – proposal to convert existing door to a window NO ACTION TAKEN Property owners, Elissa Cogan and Barry N. Chester, were present to address the Commission concerning the proposal. Public Hearing On a motion made by L. Truame, seconded by K. Brennan, Chair A. Pieper opened the public hearing. There being no one to address the Commission, Chair A. Pieper closed the public hearing on a motion made by K. Brennan, seconded by S. Stein. A-2. 313 East Buffalo Street, East Hill Historic District – proposal to install awnings Public Hearing On a motion made by K. Brennan, seconded by L. Truame, Chair A. Pieper opened the public hearing. There being no one to address the Commission, Chair A. Pieper closed the public hearing on a motion made by S. Stein, seconded by L. Truame. RESOLUTION RA-2: On a motion by K. Brennan, seconded by S. Stein. WHEREAS, 313 East Buffalo Street is located in the East Hill Historic District as provided for in Section 228-3 and 228-4 of the Municipal Code, and 1 j/groups/ilpc/minutes/template 2/0921 ILPC Meeting Date WHEREAS, as set forth in Section 228-4(E) of the Municipal Code, an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness was submitted by property owners Elissa Cogan and Barry N. Chester for review by the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission, (ILPC), and WHEREAS, the action under consideration is the installation of three motorized awnings on the second story of the west side of the house, and WHEREAS, the purpose of the action is to mitigate uncomfortably high temperatures caused by direct afternoon sunlight, 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 for which no further environmental review is required, and WHEREAS, the ILPC has reviewed the submitted documentation including the following: a narrative description of the proposal received on December 4, 2006, accompanied by elevation drawings dated August 4, 2005 showing a profile of the awning as viewed from the north (front) façade and the awnings as viewed from the west façade, a written proposal from Welco Awnings dated July 25, 2006 and sample of the awning material. The ILPC has also reviewed the East Hill Historic District Summary Significance Statement drawn from narrative prepared in June 1986 by Lucy Breyer, with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, for the National Register Nomination Form upon which the district’s listing on the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places is based and upon which the local designation is based, and the New York State Building Structure Inventory Form. Also reviewed at the meeting were the National Park Service Preservation Brief 44 “The Use of Awnings on Historic Buildings: Repair, Replacement & New Design” and the publication Images of Ithaca and Tompkins County, the Early Years: 1850-1939, published by The Ithaca Journal and the DeWitt Historical Society 2001, 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 the Certificate of Appropriateness was conducted at the regularly scheduled ILPC meeting on December 14, 2006, and WHEREAS, the ILPC made the following findings of fact concerning the property and the proposal: - - 2 J:\GROUPS\Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission\ILPC Meetings\1989-2009 Materials\Minutes\2006\1214.doc ILPC Meeting Date The period of significance for development of the area now known as the East Hill Historic District is identified in the East Hill Historic District Summary Significance Statement as 1830-1932. The residence is historically and architecturally significant as a good, local example of the transitional Greek Revival/Italianate style, representative of the 1860 date of its construction. Constructed within the period of significance and retaining sufficient integrity to reflect its historic and architectural significance, the property is a contributing element of the East Hill Historic District. WHEREAS, in its determination of the proposal the ILPC has considered the following: In this and all evaluation of proposals for alterations, new construction or demolition in historic districts, the ILPC 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. Residential use of awnings was not unusual in the late 19th and early 20th century, in the era predating air conditioners, as described in National Park Service Preservation Brief 44 “The Use of Awnings on Historic Buildings: Repair Replacement & New Design” and as shown on buildings in Ithaca in the publication Images of Ithaca and Tompkins County, the Early Years: 1850-1939, published by The Ithaca Journal and the DeWitt Historical Society 2001. The installation of the three awnings will not destroy historic materials that characterize the property, in keeping with Standard #9. The newly installed awnings shall be differentiated from the earlier fabric and are compatible with the massing, size, scale and architectural features of the residence to protect the historic integrity of the property and its environment, in keeping with Standard #9. - - 3 J:\GROUPS\Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission\ILPC Meetings\1989-2009 Materials\Minutes\2006\1214.doc ILPC Meeting Date WHEREAS, the proposal will not have a substantial adverse effect on the aesthetic, historical, or architectural significance of the East Hill Historic District, 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 Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission approves the request for a Certificated of Appropriateness. RECORD OF VOTE: Carried 4-0-0 Yes A. Pieper, Chair K. Brennan Susan Stein Lynn Truame No Abstain A-3. 313 East Buffalo Street - proposal for exterior installation of a generator Public Hearing On a motion made by L. Truame, seconded by S. Stein, Chair A. Pieper opened the public hearing. There being no one to address the Commission, Chair A. Pieper closed the public hearing on a motion made by K. Brennan, seconded by L. Truame. RESOLUTION RA-3: On a motion by L. Truame, seconded by K. Brennan. WHEREAS, 313 East Buffalo Street is located in the East Hill Historic District as provided for in Section 228-3 and 228-4 of the Municipal Code, and WHEREAS, as set forth in Section 228-4(E) of the Municipal Code, an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness was submitted by property owners Elissa Cogan and Barry N. Chester for review by the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission, (ILPC), and WHEREAS, The action under consideration is the installation of a diesel generator and automatic transfer switch housing in a sound insulating enclosure in the southeast corner of the rear year, and WHEREAS, the purpose of the action is to provide a backup power system, and - - 4 J:\GROUPS\Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission\ILPC Meetings\1989-2009 Materials\Minutes\2006\1214.doc ILPC Meeting Date 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 submitted documentation including the following: a narrative description of the proposal received on December 4, 2006, accompanied by a site plan of the rear yard dated 11/9/06 and showing the proposed location of the generator and specifications for generators from Detroit Diesel and Penn Power Systems. The ILPC has also reviewed the East Hill Historic District Summary Significance Statement drawn from the narrative prepared in June 1986 by Lucy Breyer, with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, for the National Register Nomination Form upon which listing on the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places is based and upon which the local designation is based, and the New York State Building Structure Inventory Form, 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 the Certificate of Appropriateness was conducted at the regularly scheduled ILPC meeting on December 14, 2006, and WHEREAS, the ILPC has made the following findings of fact concerning the property and the proposal: The period of significance for development of the area now known as the East Hill Historic District is identified in the East Hill Historic District Summary Significance Statement as 1830-1932. The residence is historically and architecturally significant as a good local example of the transitional Greek Revival/Italianate style, representative of the 1860 date of its construction. Constructed within the period of significance and retaining sufficient integrity to reflect its historic and architectural significance, the property is a contributing element of the East Hill Historic District. WHEREAS, in its determination of the proposal the ILPC has considered the following: In this and all evaluation of proposals for alterations, new construction or demolition in historic districts, the ILPC is guided - - 5 J:\GROUPS\Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission\ILPC Meetings\1989-2009 Materials\Minutes\2006\1214.doc ILPC Meeting Date 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 will 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 of the residence 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. The generator will be located at the southeasterly corner of the property; in this location the generator will not be easily visible to the public. The southeasterly corner location and the plan for a “sunken garden” reduce the visual impacts of the generator on the subject property and neighboring properties. The installation of the generator will 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 of the residence to protect the historic integrity of the property and its environment, in keeping with Standard #9. The installation of the generator will 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, in keeping with Standard #10. WHEREAS, the proposal will not have a substantial adverse effect on the aesthetic, historical, or architectural significance of the East Hill Historic District, 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 Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission approves the request for a Certificated of Appropriateness. - - 6 J:\GROUPS\Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission\ILPC Meetings\1989-2009 Materials\Minutes\2006\1214.doc ILPC Meeting Date RECORD OF VOTE: Yes A. Pieper, Chair K. Brennan Susan Stein Lynn Truame No Abstain B. Uris Library Plaza, Arts Quad Historic District – proposal for redesigned landscape between Uris and Olin Libraries Public Hearing On a motion made by L. Truame, seconded by S. Stein, Chair A. Pieper opened the public hearing. There being no one to address the Commission, Chair A. Pieper closed the public hearing on a motion made by K. Brennan, seconded by L. Truame. RESOLUTION RB: On a motion by S. Stein, seconded by K. Brennan. WHEREAS, 121 East Buffalo Street is located in the East Hill Historic District as provided for in Section 228-3 and 228-4 of the Municipal Code, and WHEREAS, as set forth in Section 228-4(E) of the Municipal Code, an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness was submitted by Rick Bales of Green Scene Lawn and Garden on behalf of the property owner for review by the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission, (ILPC), and WHEREAS, the action under consideration is the construction of a new concrete retaining wall adjacent to the existing failed retaining wall in the area of the buttresses, and to backfill the space between the two walls with flow fill soil. The new retaining wall joins into the existing retaining wall at either end. At the west end the new retaining wall joins the old at approximately the location where the 7’ step-down beings. The segment of the existing retaining wall closest to the street will remain as is, and WHEREAS, the purpose of the action is to strengthen the earlier but failing wall in the same location, 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 for which no further environmental review is required, and WHEREAS, the ILPC has reviewed the submitted documentation including the following: a narrative description of the proposal received on December - - 7 J:\GROUPS\Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission\ILPC Meetings\1989-2009 Materials\Minutes\2006\1214.doc ILPC Meeting Date 5, 2006, accompanied by plan and section drawings showing the existing and the proposed wall. The ILPC has also reviewed the East Hill Historic District Summary Significance Statement drawn from the narrative prepared in June 1986 by Lucy Breyer, of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, for the National Register nomination form, upon which the New York State and National Register listing is based and upon which the local designation is based, and the New York State Building Structure Inventory Form, 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 the Certificate of Appropriateness was conducted at the regularly scheduled ILPC meeting on December 14, 2006, and WHEREAS, the ILPC has made the following findings of fact concerning the property and the proposal: The period of significance for development of the area now known as the East Hill Historic District is identified in the East Hill Historic District Summary Significance Statement as 1830-1932. The residence is historically and architecturally significant as a representative local example of late 19th century construction, altered over time and characteristic of the c.1899 construction date. Constructed within the period of significance and retaining sufficient integrity to reflect its historic and architectural significance, the property is a contributing element of the East Hill Historic District. WHEREAS, in its determination of the proposal the ILPC has considered the following: In this and all evaluation of proposals for alterations, new construction or demolition in historic districts, the ILPC is guided by the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and in this case, specifically the following Standards: #2 The historic character of a property shall be retained and preserved. The removal of historic materials or alteration of features and spaces that characterize a property shall be avoided. - - 8 J:\GROUPS\Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission\ILPC Meetings\1989-2009 Materials\Minutes\2006\1214.doc ILPC Meeting Date #5 Distinctive features, finishes, and construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship that characterize a historic property shall be preserved. As shown on the 1979 photograph that accompanies the New York State Building Structure Inventory Form for 121 North Quarry Street, stonework is a visually significant feature of this property. The treatment of the retaining wall involves leaving the existing stone wall in place, constructing a new concrete wall in front of the old and leaving exposed the segment of the existing wall that is closest to the street. The photograph on the New York State Building-Structure Inventory Form shows that the original retaining wall was likely dry laid stone. The integrity of this wall has been compromised with successive applications of cement mortar. The proposed repair and replacement treatment preserves the most visible portion of the existing stone wall in keeping with Standards #2 and #5. The new construction does not destroy historic materials that characterize the property. The new work is differentiated from the olf and is compatible with the massing, size, scale and architectural features to protect the historic integrity of the property and its environment in keeping with standard #9 WHEREAS, the proposal will not have a substantial adverse effect on the aesthetic, historical, or architectural significance of the East Hill Historic District, 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 Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission approves the request for a Certificated of Appropriateness. The section of new wall facing North Quarry Street shall be faced with Llenroc stone. RECORD OF VOTE: Yes A. Pieper, Chair No Abstain - - 9 J:\GROUPS\Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission\ILPC Meetings\1989-2009 Materials\Minutes\2006\1214.doc ILPC Meeting Date K. Brennan Susan Stein Lynn Truame II. PLEASURE OF THE CHAIR A. Administrative Matters B. Public Comment on Matters of Interest C. Communications III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES None IV. OLD BUSINESS V. NEW BUSINESS A. TCAT Bus Shelter – Commission members discussed the location of a TCAT bus shelter at the southwest corner of South Quarry and East State Streets. Members agreed that staff would prepare a memo regarding the Commission’s discussion to be submitted to the Mayor. VI. ADJOURNMENT Respectfully Submitted, Leslie A. Chatterton, Secretary Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission - - 10 J:\GROUPS\Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission\ILPC Meetings\1989-2009 Materials\Minutes\2006\1214.doc