FRIENDS' Testimony:

Over time, this building has slowly lost its midcentury charm, losing its unique blue-glazed brick facade a few years ago, and altering its storefronts with uninspired designs. In 2015, this building came before the Commission to raise the height of the windows at another storefront at the end of the building at 755 Madison. After the Commission approved the proposal, the permit was later amended to remove the existing black cladding and replace it with limestone.

Today, this storefront still retains a bit of midcentury character with its black granite cladding. Black granite is commonly seen in the district at the entrances and storefronts of midcentury buildings, and our Preservation Committee believes that this is a distinctive feature of buildings of this style. While other limestone storefronts in the district can be successful, to us this design lacks substance and depth. We do agree, though, that the taller window height is more attractive.

To us, the piecemeal replacement of storefront as vacancies arise is problematic and results in a disjointed appearance. Because this entire building has been so altered over time, if a limestone storefront is to be proposed we feel that it must have a more interesting design, and that the limestone should exactly match the storefront at Number 755, or else the disparities in material will be even more obvious.