Date: 5/9/2017

LPC Docket #: LPC-16-6312

LPC Action: Approved with modifications
Action required by other agencies: DOB, DOT
Permit Type: CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS

Address: 84-11 37th Avenue, aka 35-64 85th Street

Borough: Queens
Block: 1458 Lot: 35
Historic District: Jackson Heights Historic District
Description: A Moderne style commercial building designed by Boris Dorfman and built in 1945-46. Application is to
construct additions, alter facades, create a light court, create new openings, install storefront infill, install a canopy,
create planting beds and install a curb cut.
COMMISSION FINDINGS
The Commission NOTED that the building's style, scale, materials and details are among the features that contribute to
the architectural and historic character of the Jackson Heights Historic District.

Pursuant to Section 25-307 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York, the Commission APPROVED WITH
MODIFICATIONS, finding:

-that the neighborhood was developed as a planned community in the early decades of the 20th century as part of the
“Garden City” movement, and that commercial and institutional properties were subsequently constructed and
integrated with residential buildings, thereby being a later and secondary type of development in the historic district;
-that most of the purpose-built commercial buildings along 82nd Street and 37th Avenue were designed in the neo-Tudor
and neo-Georgian styles that related to the earlier adjoining apartment buildings, and that this building, constructed in
1945-46, is part of a smaller and later development of Moderne and Post-World War II construction in the historic district,
and does not exhibit the high level of architectural features of its Neo-Tudor and Neo-Georgian style predecessors;
-that because this Moderne commercial building was part of the later construction phase on remaining undeveloped lots
after World War II, it is not part of the character-defining buildings for which this historic district was designated in terms
of its design and style, and therefore a large addition will not diminish the relationship of the building to the historic
character of the district;
-that no significant architectural features of the roof or façades will be lost or damaged as a result of the construction of
the 4-story addition, side addition and interior courtyard;
-that the proposal will retain a strong reading of the one-story commercial presence found on 37th Avenue in the one-
story commercial buildings and in the bases of apartment buildings;
-that several apartment houses along 37th Avenue were designed to have continuous storefronts that extended onto the
side streets, and that this building will maintain this historic condition with a prominent rounded corner storefront,
featuring an entrance flanked by rounded glazed and brick infill and large display windows along 37th Avenue and 85th
Street;
-that the buildings on the north side of 37th Avenue are predominantly 4-6 stories in height, and therefore, the height
and massing of the proposed addition will relate to the scale on this side of the avenue;
-that the addition will be set back from the plane of the one-story commercial base at the 37th Avenue façade and align
with the upper floors of the adjacent building, thereby reinforcing the continuity of the streetwall;
-that the scale of the addition’s floor-to-ceiling heights will relate well to the scale and character of the adjacent
apartment building with a commercial base on 37th Avenue;
-that the presence of balconies, located and recessed at the center section of the addition’s façades, will be similar in
façade treatment found at the adjacent buildings within the post-World War II apartment complex, which also feature
recessed balconies and therefore, will strengthen its relationship to the neighboring building and to the buildings within
this complex along both sides of 85th Street;
-that the proposed materials, consisting of brick and pre-cast concrete, with aluminum windows, will be harmonious with
the materials of other residential buildings with a commercial base on the streetscape and in this historic district;
-that the building will feature an interior courtyard, which is a key feature found at apartment buildings within the
historic district that sought to optimize light and air;
-that the design, configuration, materials and finish of the proposed metal-and-glass storefront infill and signage will
match the building’s Commission approved storefront master plan;
 Date: 5/9/2017
LPC Docket #: LPC-16-6312
LPC Action: Approved with modifications
Action required by other agencies: DOB, DOT
Permit Type: CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS

-that the creation of new door and window openings at the westernmost area of the 37th Avenue façade and at the 85th
Street façade will not result in the removal of decorative architectural features at the façades;
-that the location of the residential entrance and window openings at the 85th Street façade will reflect a typical
transition found at corner buildings from the commercial avenue to the residential side street;
-that the design, scale and details of the residential entrance and marquee will be proportional to the building and relate
to typical features found on buildings of this age, type and style;
-that the proposed planting beds at the areaways and sidewalk will be in keeping with landscaping features found within
the historic district;
-and that Jackson Heights, as a community that was designed to accommodate automobiles and apartments buildings,
historically featured garages on residential side streets and therefore, the presence and location of the garage and curb
cut are in keeping with buildings of this type and this historic district.

However, in voting to grant this approval, the Commission required:

-that the applicant work with staff to ensure balconies do not read as a projection; to articulate the entrance both at the
ground floor and parapet; and to continue to refine and articulate the corner of the building either through details of the
spandrels or parapet.
VOTE:
Present: Meenakshi Srinivasan, Adi Shamir-Baron, Frederick Bland, Diana Chapin, Wellington Chen, Michael Goldblum,
John Gustafsson, Kim Vauss, Jeanne Lutfy

9-0-0

In Favor = M.Srinivasan, A.Shamir-Baron, F.Bland, D.Chapin, W.Chen, M.Goldblum, J.Gustafsson, K.Vauss, J.Lutfy
Oppose =
Abstain =
Recuse =
Please note that these “Commission Findings” are a summary of the findings related to the application. This is NOT a
permit or approval to commence any work. No work may occur until the Commission has issued a Certificate of
Appropriateness, which requires review and approval of Department of Buildings filing drawings and/or other
construction drawings related to the approved work. In addition, no work may occur until the work has been reviewed
and approved by other City agencies, such as the Department of Buildings, as required by law