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LPC approves small rooftop alteration at Clinton Hill row house after DOB dispute over bulkhead rule
Summary
The Landmarks Preservation Commission approved a revision to a previously granted rooftop addition at 35 Clifton Place in the Clinton Hill Historic District after the Department of Buildings required a 20‑degree roof pitch to avoid a rooftop bulkhead; commissioners urged DOB and LPC staff to clarify policy on the rule.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Aug. 12 approved a requested amendment to a previously granted Certificate of Appropriateness for a fourth‑floor rooftop addition at 35 Clifton Place in the Clinton Hill Historic District (LPC docket LPC-26‑01388). The change responds to a Department of Buildings (DOB) determination that a bulkhead or stair enclosure would otherwise be required unless the new roof pitch was raised to 20 degrees. Applicant representatives told the commission that DOB plan examiners changed their interpretation of the requirement and were now requiring either a visible bulkhead or a pitched roof exceeding 20 degrees. To avoid a bulky, visible stair bulkhead, the designers proposed a low‑profile 20.5° pitched roof that increases the addition’s height by approximately 3–4 feet above the previously approved section in places but remains minimally visible from nearby public ways. The applicants said the revised roof would remove the need for a rooftop stair bulkhead and associated railings that would be more visible. Commissioners generally found the proposal appropriate for this rear‑facing, minimally visible rooftop and emphasized that the applicant had reduced visibility compared with an earlier design. Several commissioners requested that LPC staff seek a clear, written DOB policy or a memorandum so future applicants could rely on a consistent interpretation of the “20‑degree” approach and the triggers for bulkheads. The commissioners approved the amendment with a motion that found the revised rooftop compatible with the district and required neutral‑colored rooftop flues and typical rooftop signage to remain unobtrusive. The vote was 10–0. The project record shows the contractor removed condenser units from the roof per staff direction and that the applicant has filed a technical appeal with DOB; the amendment was approved to allow the applicant to proceed pending DOB’s internal reconsideration.
