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Old Dutch Church granted COA for four HVAC condensers with conditions on location, paint and contractor acknowledgement
Summary
The commission approved installation of four ground‑mounted HVAC condensers at 272 Wall Street (Old Dutch Church) with conditions requiring ground pads, use of existing building portals for lines, paint matching church trim, confirmation of deed‑covenant approvals and staff verification of contractor acknowledgement of COA conditions.
The Historic Landmark Preservation Commission on Feb. 6 granted a certificate of appropriateness for the installation of four HVAC condenser units at 272 Wall Street (the Old Dutch Church), a National Historic Landmark, subject to multiple conditions including ground mounting, color matching and administrative signoffs.
Commission staff reviewed proposed locations on the eastern elevation and recommended ground‑mounted pads with a quarter‑to‑half‑inch gravel base to match surrounding stone, use of two existing portals into the basement for all lines and paint treatment of the new and existing mechanical equipment to match the church’s trim color. Commissioners and staff discussed that screening planting was infeasible because of Fire Department access requirements, so commissioners concluded painting the condensers would best meet the code’s intent to minimize visual impact.
The commission accepted the applicant’s documentation and staff’s findings that prior ground‑mounted equipment and a generator in the eastern yard had not disturbed known burials; staff referenced an 1882 committee note and statements by church representative Rob Sweeney describing earlier site work and moved graves. Nonetheless, the motion specifies the contractor must avoid new wall penetrations and must use the two existing portals when routing lines into the building.
Commissioners added two administrative conditions: staff must obtain an acknowledgement from the contractor confirming understanding of all COA conditions, and the applicant must secure any required approvals tied to deed covenants from earlier grants (the motion refers to obtaining sign‑off from SHPO or other deed‑covenant holders as necessary). The motion also referenced energy‑efficiency incentives discussed in the materials but did not make those a condition of approval.
The COA motion states the work is compatible with the historic character of the landmark if done according to submitted plans and requires that any deviations return to the commission for further review.
