Ithaca commission approves reconstruction of century-old porch at 115 The Knoll; rooftop terrace withdrawn

The Ithaca Landmark Preservation Commission on Jan. 21 approved a certificate of appropriateness for work at 115 The Knoll, authorizing the removal of the deteriorated wooden portions of the partially enclosed west porch and installation of the proposed window system while requiring the applicant to preserve and document original fabric where feasible. The applicant withdrew the rooftop terrace and exterior stair as part of the application and said it will return if it proposes a revised terrace design.

The commission said the work matters because 115 The Knoll is a contributing property in the Cornell Heights Historic District (period of significance 1898–1937) and the commission must find that proposed exterior changes will not have a substantial adverse effect on the district’s historic character. The approval cites municipal review standards and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation in making that determination.

Stream Collaborative representatives Rob Mirage and Noah Demarest presented the application and described the…