Landmarks Committee Tells 48 Downing Street Homeowner To Try Again With Proposed Renovations
Living in a historic district has its perks — gorgeous architecture, stable (and rising) housing prices — but it also means there are extra limits to how much and what kind of renovations you can do to your house. That is why the homeowners of 48 Downing Street have been told by the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) no and come again on their renovation plans.
The house itself is listed as Italianate in style and was built between 1868 and 1870.
The proposal, presented by Tom van den Bout of Manhattan-based NV/design architecture, includes removing an existing year yard deck and replacing it with a two-story rear yard addition. Then excavation would be undertaken to extend the first floor of that addition. The height would match that of the fences separating the property from its neighbors. Additionally, a one-story rooftop addition would be constructed and would include a deck, plus a skylight on one side.
However, while the LPC board was okay with the suggested rear yard addition, they weren’t keen on the proposed rooftop addition and skylight, with LPC Commissioner Michael Goldblum describing it as the “first hold in the dike” of an “intact block” such as this one. Commissioner Michael Devonshire added that it would lead to a “cacophony of accretions.”
48 Downing Street is located in the Clinton Hill Historic District. The board suggested reducing the size of the proposed expansions. The homeowners are due to present their new plans this week.
Update (January 13): The revised proposal has been approved. The troublesome fourth floor extension has been scrapped in favor of an open roof with railing and open staircase leading up from the existing third floor. An elevator bulkhead will also be visible.