LPC approves window replacements, rooftop bulkhead, new building and addition after public testimony

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on April 22 approved four preservation-related applications: replacement windows at 1 Grace Court in the Brooklyn Heights Historic District, a new four‑story building at 27 Cranberry Street (Brooklyn Heights) with conditions to refine certain details, a stair bulkhead and railings at 127 Hicks Street (Brooklyn Heights), and a roughly 1,000‑square‑foot rear addition over the garage at 5294 Sycamore Avenue in the Riverdale Historic District.

Votes at a glance - LPC 25‑06796, 1 Grace Court (Brooklyn Heights): Approved. Work: replace four failed windows on the secondary (rear/BQE-facing) façade with bronze‑colored single‑pane tilt‑turn aluminum units to match previously approved units on other floors. Motion made by Commissioner Master and seconded by Commissioner Jefferson; roll call recorded the motion as approved (ayes recorded on the roll; chair announced the item as approved). - LPC 25‑06535, 27 Cranberry Street (Brooklyn Heights): Approved with conditions. Work: construct a new four‑story, masonry building on a long‑vacant lot and previously excavated foundation; applicant to refine cornice and side‑wall window proportions in consultation with staff. The commission majority supported the design approach that references carriage‑house and row‑house vocabulary while asking the applicant to work with staff on corner proportions and the side‑wall windows that face the adjacent wood frame house. - LPC 25‑08890, 127 Hicks Street (Brooklyn Heights): Approved. Work: an 8‑foot‑tall stair bulkhead, gray standing‑seam cladding, simple black metal railings and raised chimney flues; LPC found visibility limited and materials appropriately restrained. - LPC 23‑05982, 5294 Sycamore Avenue (Riverdale Historic District): Approved. Work: a rear addition over an existing garage of about 1,000 square feet, matching brick, slate roof and fenestration; the commission noted the site’s steep topography and that the proposed massing and materials are compatible with the district. Commissioner Goldblum recused; the final tally was recorded as 8 in favor, none opposed.

What the commission heard: presenters and public testimony - 1 Grace Court: architect John Hathaway presented the window‑replacement application, saying the proposed bronze‑colored aluminum single‑pane units match previously approved work at the Second, Fourth and Sixth floors. Judy Stanton of the Brooklyn Heights Association and Brooklyn Community Board 2 both recommended approval. The commission found the proposed work appropriate for a secondary façade that is only seen at a distance across the Brooklyn‑Queens Expressway and approved the application.

- 27 Cranberry Street: architect Bridal Coburn presented a four‑story masonry building that aligns the new structure with neighboring street walls and incorporates a ground‑floor garage with a pedestrian entry set on a small porch. Several neighbors and local organizations testified. The Brooklyn Heights Association urged further refinements to reduce perceived massing next to the existing small wood frame house; a nearby resident said some window placements could directly face an adjacent bedroom and urged sensitivity. The Victorian Society and the Brooklyn Heights Association provided comments; Brooklyn Community Board 2 recommended approval. Commissioners generally supported the building’s typological approach (a large carriage‑house/row‑house gesture) but asked the applicant to work with staff on cornice details and the proportions of side‑wall windows near the adjacent frame house. The commission approved the application with those conditions.

- 127 Hicks Street: architect Michael Inguy presented a modest stair bulkhead with an eight‑foot ceiling, gray standing‑seam cladding and simple black railings. The Brooklyn Heights Association supported the application; commissioners found the rooftop work minimally visible and approved it.

- 5294 Sycamore Avenue: Building Studio Architects presented a rear enlargement over the existing garage, roughly 1,000 square feet, with materials to match the house (brick, slate roof, white painted wood trim and shutters). The Historic Districts Council supported the proposal; Bronx Community Board 8 recommended approval. Commissioners noted the site’s steep topography and limited street visibility and approved the application.

Process notes and conditions Commissioners repeatedly emphasized coordination between applicants and LPC staff to refine details — particularly at 27 Cranberry Street, where the commission directed the applicant to work with staff to refine the cornice and the dimensions/proportions of side‑wall windows that face the small adjacent frame house. The commission also flagged visibility and material cohesion as review priorities for rooftop elements.

Next steps Staff will prepare and issue certificates of appropriateness for the approved work and continue consultations where the commission requested refinements. For 27 Cranberry Street, the applicant must address the staff refinements before final sign‑off.

Ending: The approvals reflect a mix of routine maintenance on secondary facades (1 Grace Court), a newly proposed infill building with conditions (27 Cranberry), a modest rooftop accretion (127 Hicks) and a sympathetic rear addition in the Bronx (5294 Sycamore).