Bed-Stuy Historic District Building OKed For New Design After Pushback

BED-STUY, NY — City officials approved an updated proposal for a new property in the Bedford Historic District after the building's architect made tweaks to its facade.

The city's Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved new plans for a construction on Hancock Street near Nostrand Avenue.

Residents and the commission in June objected to initial plans for the building, claiming it would stick out among a row of well preserved brownstones, Brownstoner reported.

Architects on Tuesday revealed new plans that include a decreased height, pared down top floor, adjusted window sizes and more intricate facade detailing.

Commissioners agreed that, short some fiber glass detailing and gaudy roof details, the building was ready to move forward.

"I think they've done a really good job of addressing our comments," said commissioner Anne Holford-Smith. "I think the changes to this design get more texture and a little more complexity."

Now, the building will be slightly taller than its next-door neighbor but shorter than the tallest building on the block, according to architect Ana Maria Torres.

Exposed brick was removed from the buildings' facade, and a trellis on the backside of the building was significantly scaled down, Torres said. The windows on the front were realigned and adjusted to be uniform with neighboring buildings, renderings show.

Added detail and more uniform use of brownstone on the facade would also help the new design fit in with its neighbors, Torres said. And the properties' entrance was also scaled down to blend in.

Rona Morrissette, President of the Hancock Street Block Association #2, said the architect's efforts were appreciated — but locals had hoped for more.

"I feel that the architect Ana Torres tried, and her latest proposal for 162 Hancock St is satisfactory but we'd hoped for better," Morrissette told Patch.

"It's a decent building but this block has a reputation for being one of the most premier blocks in Brooklyn with buildings designed by some of New York's finest architects so we were hoping to have that standard reflected in the building."

Vice Chair Frederick Bland also acknowledged the phenomenal architectural history of the block, but said Torres sufficiently met the standard.

"In this row, there's a great variety of architectural expression. I think this architect had a harder time. It solved it in a beautiful way," Bland said. "I'm quite impressed."

Some 67 people submitted public comment ahead of Tuesday's vote, indicating the plans were moving in the right direction but reiterating concerns shared on June 13.

"The design of this building is of utmost importance because it will represent the first new construction on the block in approximately 125 years," said Andrea Mason, an architect who lives on Hancock Street between Nostrand and Marcy avenues, at the June 13 meeting.

Local opponents in June, which included Community Board 3 representatives and Assembly Member Stefanie Zinerman, hoped to see the building considered in tandem with its neighbor at 164 Hancock Street — something commissioners said wouldn't be possible.

Morrissette said she would have hoped for more time to help develop the property.

"We take our roles as custodians of our communities' beauty and architectural significance very seriously," said Suzette Hunt who has served on a neighboring block association for nearly 10 years. "For us who have actually lived in this area and who have to live with what is built, this is not an aesthetically pleasing design by any measure."

This article was edited on Aug. 17 to reflect comments from the Hancock Street Block Association #2.