FRIENDS' Testimony:

While the Preservation Committee at FRIENDS is pleased to see a largely in-kind restoration of these three buildings, we are concerned about the use of GFRC to replace the deteriorated window surrounds. We question how closely the proposed material will resemble original brownstone, not only in appearance but also in its weathering over time.

As we stated in the 2012 application for St. Jean Baptiste Roman Catholic Church at 1067 Lexington Avenue, which proposed use of GRFC columns in the towers, it is our hope that the applicant will supply the LPC with a study of the feasibility of using other replacement materials such as cast stone or terra cotta. We ask the Commission to work with the applicant to ensure the use of a material that will be most compatible with the existing brownstone. Indeed, if the result is a successful match, we look forward to this innovative approach to material replacement.