Busted Down on 14th Street...
Despite having had a house in a landmark district for five years, the owner of 470 14th Street in Park Slope couldn’t be bothered to play by the rules when she decided to spruce up the exterior of her 1892 William Hawkins-designed townhouse earlier this year. Now, after the fact, she’s having to go back…
Despite having had a house in a landmark district for five years, the owner of 470 14th Street in Park Slope couldn’t be bothered to play by the rules when she decided to spruce up the exterior of her 1892 William Hawkins-designed townhouse earlier this year. Now, after the fact, she’s having to go back to LPC to try to get approval for the unauthorized windows and paint job. While they’re at it, they should take a look at that door. It doesn’t exactly scream “original!”
December 18, 2007 Agenda [LPC] GMAP
I think there are a few people in the LPC who need to be bitch slapped. In fact I would enjoy viewing that… I think it would be “cute.”
Question: I’ve seen a few homes in prime north Slope where the balusters/brownstone stoop railings are painted green, red, purple, and other nutty colors. Why is that allowed but then this case here is considered a travesty?
lpc sucks
So let me get this right. The aesthetics don’t matter because the house was probably brown a century ago. This is ridiculous, the house looks a lot better than the one on its right. It’s uplifting and done tastefully. The fact that this may not be allowed makes me question my support for LPC.
Nosey neighbors, mind your business.
To 10:19: if the LPC’s requirements are too much, then don’t buy in a landmark district. Everyone likes the LPC when it’s preventing larger-scale development in the name of preservation, but not so happy when it means that brownstone owners can’t just slap in the vinyl NuPros some Saturday afternoon.
Aesthetically, I don’t mind the colors of this house. Whoever did it had the right idea about the low-contrast putty-like earth tones. But the LPC isn’t about aesthetics. The colors probably aren’t appropriate here.
I write probably. Does anyone know the color of the masonry underneath the paint? The facade’s treatment doesn’t match the houses on either side. Are we looking at light-colored rusticated brick underneath the paint? 1892 would be early for that material, but not too early. Or, perhaps, was the facade rebuilt in the 1920s to remedy some already-decaying brownstone?
The windows, however, are crap.
Does LPC regulate colors or materials?
Most Landmark photos are black and white. How can LPC determine appropriate color via B&W photos?
White windows are a no-no in Brownstone Brooklyn’s historic districts. It doesn’t matter if you personally like them or think they are cute.
On a 1700’s house, or a 1920’s colonial revival house, cream-colored, off-white, or putty-colored windows are appropriate. Rarely white.
On Limestone houses, dove-grey, off-white, deep green, or black windows look best.
White windows are for split levels and McMansions. Sorry.
When someone on the block goes through the hoops and gets their permits, they understandibly get annoyed when they see someone else just doing as they please. It is human nature. You will probably be ratted out if you change your historic house without permits. That’s the way it is. No sense bemoaning it. Just file for permits before you change windows. The process is needlessly difficult and at times infuriatingly so for approval of minor things(it is much easier to get approval for a whole new building) but that’s the way it is. Your property values are high in part because the area is protected and beautiful.