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Proposed façade alterations, window enlargements and fire-escape relocation at 4 Bond Street draw questions about mezzanine and brownstone details
Summary
SADA Architecture presented plans to repaint and alter the ground-floor mezzanine, replace storefront glazing, and relocate part of a fire escape at 4 Bond Street. Committee members asked whether the mezzanine is original and whether recreated brownstone headers would be handled at staff level or public hearing.
SADA Architecture presented an application for façade alterations at 4 Bond Street, including repainting the façade, replacing lower-level storefront glazing, enlarging the commercial openings at the mezzanine level, and modifying the existing fire escape.
Architect Alex Stoltz described the building as an altered structure with an existing arched brick header and a legal interior mezzanine above the commercial ground floor. The proposal would restore lost brownstone header elements above the storefront openings (the team said documentation supports brownstone headers historically), repaint the upper façade a pewter tone, replace the storefront glazing with modern glazed units, and relocate the lower portion of a fire escape to allow operable openings.
Committee members asked whether the mezzanine is original; Stoltz and colleagues said the mezzanine is not original but is legal and would remain part of the commercial space. The applicant said the brownstone header recreation might be eligible for staff-level approval, although they initially prepared the item for public review. The applicant said existing arch brick is a soldier-course brick arch with infill and that the infill will be removed to accommodate the new storefront openings.
A public commenter (Pete Davies) asked whether work would affect residential occupancy above; the applicant said the mezzanine is commercial and the residential floors above would not be altered. Committee members asked about the paint extent and whether the entire façade would be repainted; the applicant confirmed the whole façade will be repainted and the lower level dark color will extend to the header area.
No formal vote was recorded in the excerpt. Committee members noted the applicants’ documentation and said they would consider which elements require full committee review versus staff-level approval.
