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Q&A

Discussion on the Brooklyn Edison Building's landmark designation and facade alterations

0:16:00

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168 sec

Council Member Restler and LPC Executive Director Lisa Kersavage engage in a Q&A session about the Brooklyn Edison Building's landmark designation, focusing on the Adams Street facade and LPC's approach to regulating it.

Restler inquires about LPC's stance on the alterations made to the Adams Street side of the building
Kersavage confirms that LPC recognizes the changes made due to urban renewal and the recreation of retail storefronts
The discussion touches on the flexibility allowed for retail spaces and LPC's recognition of the building's changing context

Lincoln Restler

0:16:00

And I just have a a couple kind of related questions.

0:16:07

The current owner of the kind of condo retail space, Musk development, removed the facade on the Adam Street side and created a replica to look like the Berlin Willoughby side of the building.

0:16:18

Could you confirm that LPC agrees that the atom side of the building was the back of the historical building and does not intend to seek any changes or require future repairs that are consistent with the current design?

Lisa Kersavage

0:16:34

Yes.

0:16:34

So it is true that the front of the building was on Pearl Street, historically.

0:16:38

And the urban renewal, as I said, did change the views of the building.

0:16:44

So it exposed kind of the back.

0:16:47

And, you know, as I said, the retail was a recreation.

0:16:51

We recognize that in our all of the 3 the hearing and 2 public meetings to the council members and in our designation report.

0:16:59

So that is part of the record that allows for flexibility for those retail storefronts.

0:17:08

Our commissioner or our staff met with the owner on-site.

0:17:12

We had a really helpful tour of the site.

0:17:15

We talked about future regulation, the potential of master plans, and other ways to provide you know, flexibility, but also timeliness in issuing permits for those retail, which we agree really activates that streak.

Lincoln Restler

0:17:29

That is helpful to hear, but just to to ask the question plainly, Recognizing that Adams was the back of the building.

0:17:39

You're not intending.

0:17:39

LPC is not intending any future repairs that are inconsistent with the current design.

Lisa Kersavage

0:17:44

Well, the, you know, the the back of the building is a cute it's a big building.

0:17:49

Yeah.

0:17:50

And so, you know, it's the upper floors and the ground floor.

0:17:52

And the way LPC regulates is, you know, we regulate the whole building, but we recognize for storefronts that there's often been alterations with base and that storefronts have special needs.

0:18:05

So our rules allow for a lot our staff to issue permits that can be expedited, that can be fast.

0:18:13

And we so we recognize the needs of businesses, and and talk

Lincoln Restler

0:18:16

to them.

0:18:16

And I do wanna get into the storefront.

0:18:18

Specific issues with you, but I do just wanna try to make sure that we're saying the same thing.

0:18:24

As a result of urban renewal, Adams kind of became the main entrance for the building as it opened up the Adams Street side and Columbus Park, etcetera.

0:18:32

But you're not intending to require future repairs that are inconsistent with the current design with regard to kind of the historical nature of where the original entrance was or anything to that effect.

Lisa Kersavage

0:18:47

I'm not sure what you mean was inconsistent.

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Discussion on LPC's approach to regulating buildings and storefronts