LPC calendars Public School 15 Annex in Brooklyn for landmark consideration

The Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to put the Public School 15 Annex at 362 Schermerhorn Street on its calendar for individual landmark consideration. Research presenter Sarah Eccles told commissioners the three‑story Romanesque Revival annex, designed by James Naughton in 1889, remains highly intact and reflects the city’s late‑19th century school architecture and the history of continuation schools for girls.

"The Public School 15 Annex is highly intact with only minor alterations including the removal of roofline finials, windows altered in kind, and the entrance door replaced with a fireproof safety door, a typical alteration for a school building," said Sarah Eccles of the research department. Her presentation summarized the building’s history — including use by a Girls’ Continuation School, later mental health clinic functions and recent adaptive‑reuse plans tied to nearby development — and led the staff to recommend calendaring for consideration as an individual landmark.

Commissioners asked applicants and staff to confirm whether the annex will be preserved as part of the surrounding development; staff said the property owner proposes partial preservation and adaptive reuse tied to a larger new construction project. Commissioner Ekumbay moved to calendar the item and Commissioner Wilder seconded; the motion carried by voice vote. The calendaring means the Commission will schedule a future public hearing to consider designation.

What’s next: calendaring places the annex on the Commission’s docket for a full hearing and potential designation; staff will post hearing dates and circulate materials for public comment.