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Architects ask Orangetown board to allow demolition and in‑kind reconstruction of Fern Lodge and Fern Barn at 56 Wood Road
Summary
Applicants presented HABR 26-05 for 56 Wood Road in the Palisades: they say the Fern Lodge and Fern Barn are too deteriorated to restore to code, propose replacement buildings that reference the original carpenter‑gothic vernacular, and discussed energy upgrades and zoning approvals; board members raised preservation concerns.
Aurel Garcia Architects presented application HABR 26‑05 at the Orangetown hearing for demolition and reconstruction of buildings at 56 Wood Road, describing the existing Fern Lodge and Fern Barn as significantly deteriorated and proposing new structures that would follow the original massing and architectural vocabulary while meeting modern codes and energy guidelines.
Walter Aurel, an architect with Aurel Garcia Architects, told the board the accessory project is intended as a separate studio and guest cottage for the homeowners and that the new forms are "derived from cues taken from the main house." Margaret Garcia said restoring the existing historic structures to meet current codes was not feasible and referenced an engineer's evaluation in the application package documenting failures of foundation, framing and roof systems. "A code compliant restoration is not feasible," the applicants stated during the presentation.
The architects described exterior materials and finishes — matching shingles, vertical oriented hardy board (shiplap) painted dark green, and a barn reworked to retain the original footprint and cupola as a light monitor — and discussed sustainability features including heat pumps, a possible electric boiler for radiant floors, and potential solar on south‑facing roofs. The presenters said the main house had been designed to be net‑zero and that panels could not be shared across separate structures.
Board members pressed the applicants on historic district implications and chronology: one committee member warned that repeated demolitions in the Palisades Historic District "take away from the ambiance" and urged caution. The applicants said they consider themselves preservationists and intend to adapt historic cues in the new work, but argued the buildings' advanced decay, as documented in their engineer's report, leaves limited practical options for true restoration.
The application team said they had already obtained zoning approval and did not need variances for the current proposals; they noted the new siting reduced previous noncompliance. The transcript records detailed back‑and‑forth about visibility, square footage (presenters said the aggregate new area is about the same or slightly less than existing but could not provide exact numbers on the spot) and site logistics; presenters stated the parcel is roughly two acres and also cited a net area figure in the narrative of 133,774 square feet in materials.
No final decision or formal vote is recorded in the transcript. The architects closed by saying they would be available for further questions and the board continued its review at the meeting.
