FRIENDS' Testimony:

As stated on our testimony from December 2020, we appreciate the thorough restoration of this corner rowhouse. The use of decorative moldings, wooden transoms and multi-light windows on the second floor are in-keeping with the building’s character and are appropriate to the Upper East Side Historic District. A year ago, we thought the reintroduction of traditional brickwork on the street-level to highly improve this building’s aesthetics, and while we still believe this to be the case, the large increase of glazing area, especially on the East 73rd Street facade, diminishes such improvements significantly. While the proposed storefront multilight division softens the glazing and introduces texture, the lack of bulkheads and the excessive glazing area create an odd design of incompatible proportions on the street-level, and incongruous with the residential aspect of this side-street. Nonetheless, we are pleased to see that the decorative wrought-iron door will be installed at a more prominent location.

FRIENDS believes that, the rear addition, although allowable under current zoning resolution, should not be approved by the Commission. Much of the streetscape’s character comes from the careful balance of open and built spaces; gardens and gaps between buildings are not common in our dense neighborhood, provide a respite to passersby, and should be preserved. Additionally, we cannot support the removal of the decorative historic wrought-iron railings.