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Board finds 538 Union Avenue garage not historically significant and approves demolition plus conditioned new construction
Summary
After finding the existing garage non‑significant, the board approved demolition at 538 Union Avenue and granted approval for new construction with three conditions: match third‑floor windows to the rendering, allow either fir or stone piers, and submit a detail showing how the breezeway will connect to the garage façade.
The Design Review Board on July 30 determined the garage at 538 Union Avenue is not historically or architecturally significant and approved its demolition. Following the negative significance finding, the applicant presented plans for a new three‑level accessory structure connected by a breezeway; the board then approved the new construction with conditions.
Jose Flores of JN Construction, representing owner Josh Altschuler, described a plan for a small living unit with two bedrooms, a bathroom and garage space connected to the main house with a covered breezeway. After reviewing the structure and its limited visibility from Union Avenue, the board found no historic significance and declared the action Type II (no SEQR further review required for significance determination).
When members reviewed the proposed new construction, several design details prompted discussion (breezeway connection, glazing, columns). The board voted to approve the project on the following explicit conditions: (1) third‑floor windows shall be installed per the rendering (not the older construction drawings); (2) the applicant may choose exposed fir columns instead of stone piers; and (3) the applicant must submit a detailed drawing showing how the breezeway will attach to the garage façade for the file.
The board noted the site’s limited public visibility and authorized the demolition and conditioned approval; staff will record the conditions in the permit file and ask the applicant to deliver the breezeway detail prior to construction.
