HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-ILPC-2017-07-26Approved by ILPC: September 12, 2017
Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission (ILPC)
Minutes — July 26, 2017
Present:
Ed Finegan, Chair
David Kramer, Vice Chair
Stephen Gibian, Member
Jennifer Minner, Member
Megan McDonald, Member
Katelin Olson, Member
Bryan McCracken, Historic
Preservation Planner
Chair Finegan called the meeting to order at 1:07 pm. The meeting was held at 936 University
Avenue.
I. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. 936 University Avenue, The Foundry, Individual Local Landmark – Proposal to
Replace a Window with a Door
On behalf of property owner Cornell University, Frank Parish, Director of Facilities for the
School of Art, Architecture and Planning, summarized the details of the proposed project, noting
that the installation of a door in the proposed location would solve a circulation issue within the
building. Currently students wishing to exit on the north side of the building must walk through
the private studios of the Masters of Fine Arts students. With the addition of more functional
work spaces for architecture students behind the Foundry during the Rand Hall renovation
project, this issue would be exacerbated. The appearance of the proposed door would match that
of a door on the University Avenue (south) side of the building; the brick wall and lower sash of
the window would be removed and a new flat panel door matching others in the building would
be installed. A gravel pad and path to the existing concrete paved area would be installed for
access to the door on the exterior.
K. Olson asked if the permanent alteration of the building was really necessary since the problem
seems only temporary. F. Parish replied that the circulation problems on the interior of the
building have always existed and will continue after the Rand Hall renovation is complete. The
proposed door will correct a perennial problem.
S. Gibian inquired about the width of the door. F. Parish indicated that the door would be the
same width as the existing window, approximately 32”.
Public Hearing
On a motion by J. Minner, seconded by M.M. McDonald, Chair Finegan opened the Public
Hearing. There being no public comments, the Public Hearing was closed on a motion by K.
Olson, seconded by D. Kramer.
K. Olson commented that it is unfortunate that the exterior of the historic building is being
altered to solve problems related to the layout of the interior and asked if the MFA studios could
be relocated to eliminate the need for the additional door. F. Parish replied that the studios could
not be relocated as it would result in a significant reduction in space available for the studios.
Approved by ILPC: September 12, 2017
RESOLUTION: Moved by J. Minner, seconded by K. Olson.
WHEREAS, The Foundry at 936 University Ave. is an individual local landmark, as
designated under Section 228-3 of the City of Ithaca Municipal Code in 1990, and
WHEREAS, as set forth in Section 228-4 of the Municipal Code, an Application for a
Certificate of Appropriateness, dated June 29, 2017, was submitted for review to
the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission (ILPC) by Frank Parish on behalf
of property owner Cornell University, including the following: (1) two narratives
respectively titled Description of Proposed Change(s) and Reasons for
Changes(s); (2) four photographs documenting existing conditions and the project
location; (3) a rendering of the proposed alteration; (4) three architectural
drawings titled “Site Plan,” “Foundry 1st Floor,” and “Area of Work,” and
WHEREAS, the ILPC has reviewed the New York State Building-Structure Inventory Form
for the Foundry at 936 University Ave., and
WHEREAS, as stated in the narrative Description of Proposed Change(s), the project involves
the replacement of the window and a section of brick wall on the west side of the
east bay of the north elevation with a door, and
WHEREAS, the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness 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 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 Application for a
Certificate of Appropriateness was conducted at the regularly scheduled ILPC
meeting on July 26, 2017, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the ILPC has made the following findings of fact concerning the property and
the proposal:
As indicated in the New York State Building-Structure Inventory Form, The
Foundry at 936 University Ave was likely designed by Archimedes N. Russell to
house the casting and blacksmith shop for the Cornell University School of
Mechanical Engineering, then located in Sibley Hall and was constructed in 1883.
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
Approved by ILPC: September 12, 2017
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 228-6 of the Municipal
Code. In making this determination, the Commission is guided by the
principles set forth in Section 228-6B of the Municipal Code, as further
elaborated in Section 228-6C, and by the Secretary of the Interior’s
Standards for Rehabilitation, and in this case specifically the following
principles and Standards:
Principle #1 The historic features of an individual landmark shall be altered
as little as possible and any alterations made shall be compatible with the
historic character of the landmark.
Standard #2 The historic character of a property will be retained and
preserved. The removal of distinctive materials or alteration of features and
spaces that characterize a property will be avoided.
Standard #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.
Standard #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 respect to Principle #1, Standard #2, and Standard #9, the replacement of a
window and a section of brick wall with a door will remove distinctive materials
and will alter features and spaces that characterize the property. Ideally, changes
would be made to the interior of the building to eliminate the need to alter the
exterior of the historic resource. The ILPC notes, however, that the location of
the proposed door is not visible or easily accessible from the public way, and the
alteration of the window opening allows for the retention of some of the historic
window fabric.
Also with respect to Principle #1 and Standard #9, the proposed door is
compatible with the massing, size, scale, and architectural features of the property
and its environment.
With respect to Standard #10, the proposed door can be removed in the future
without impairment of the essential form and integrity of the historic property and
its environment.
Approved by ILPC: September 12, 2017
RESOLVED, that, based on the findings set forth above, the proposal will not have a
substantial adverse effect on the aesthetic, historical, or architectural significance
of The Foundry at 936 University Ave, as set forth in Section 228-6, and be it
further,
RESOLVED, that the Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission determines that the proposal
meets criteria for approval under Section 228-6 of the Municipal Code, and be it
further
RESOLVED, that the ILPC approves the Application for a Certificate of Appropriateness with
the following conditions:
• The removed window sash shall be clearly labelled with the date of removal and
its original location, and stored in a secure, clean and dry location for potential
future reinstallation.
• ILPC staff shall review and approve the specifications for the proposed door.
Should the door need to be enlarged to meeting Building Code, the applicant shall
submit a revised application to the Commission for review and consideration.
RECORD OF VOTE:
Moved by: J. Minner
Seconded by K. Olson
In Favor: M.M. McDonald, D. Kramer, E. Finegan, K. Olson, S. Gibian, J. Minner
Against: 0
Abstain: 0
Absent: S. Stein
Recuse: 0
II. Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 1:55 p.m. by Chair
Finegan.
Respectfully submitted,
Bryan McCracken, Historic Preservation Planner
Secretary, Ithaca Landmarks Preservation Commission