Building Name
12-22 East 89th Street
Architect
Thomas Graham
Year(s) Built
1891-93
Designation
Upper East Side Historic District
Project Information:
A Romanesque Revival style apartment hotel designed by Thomas Graham and built in 1891-93. Application is to demolish and reconstruct a portion of the building, and construct rooftop additions.
CB8 Hearing: 05/20/13 (Restoration Approved; Rooftop Addition and Reconstruction Disapproved)
LPC Hearing: 06/04/13 (No Action)
LPC Meeting: 07/16/13 (No Action); 08/13/13 (Approved)
FRIENDS' Testimony:
The Preservation Committee at FRIENDS finds certain features of this proposal to be sensitive to the historic and quirky Graham House. However, the 18-foot enlargement of the reconstructed eastern facade results in a substantial increase in bulk. Reducing this addition and reconsidering the variegated standing seam cladding would help to achieve a proposal more in keeping with the surrounding Carnegie Hill Historic District.
The rooftop addition on the Graham House, although visible from a distance, is modest in size and its contemporary expression clearly differentiates between the old and new. For these reasons it was found to be an appropriate change. However, the six foot tall fence enclosing the roof garden is quite conspicuous and atypical of rooftop additions. Committee members cannot support its approval. FRIENDS urges the Commission to continue working with the applicant in restudying this design and addressing these issues before approving this proposal.