§ 8-04 Storefront Alterations.
RCNY § 8-04
LPC staff will issue a CNE or a PMW (if the work does not require a permit from the Department of Buildings) for storefront alterations and replacement provided the work meets all of the following criteria: (a) Retention of historic storefronts. All existing original or significant historic storefronts shall be retained or repaired if feasible, or if repair is not feasible, replaced in kind.
(b)Permitted storefront alterations.
(1)Retention of significant protected features. All alterations to storefront openings, infill, and fixtures shall preserve all significant original and historic architectural components of the existing storefront, including those presently concealed by non-original materials. Such components shall be retained or repaired if feasible, or if repair is not feasible, replaced in kind.
(2)Storefront openings.
(i)Size and placement. Storefront infill shall fit within the opening established by the original building piers and lintels.
(ii)Separation between storefronts and upper floors. A storefront shall be visually separated from the upper floors or the top of the building by a horizontal architectural component, such as a cornice or sign band.
(3)Storefront infill. The design of storefront infill shall be based on: (i) Evidence of the original storefront. An original storefront design shall be determined through references to historic photographs, remnants of historic fabric, or other historic storefronts in the building or similar type of building. (Note: LPC staff can assist you in locating historic photographs.) All such evidence shall be submitted to the Commission with the application; and/or (ii) General Jackson Heights storefront infill criteria. These criteria, set forth below, reflect the typical historic configuration of storefronts in the Jackson Heights Historic District, which were comprised of three horizontal parts: solid bulkhead, display window, and transom. (A) Bulkhead. A storefront shall have a bulkhead. The bulkhead shall be between 12 inches and 24 inches in height. The bulkhead shall be built of or clad with one of the following materials: (a) brick that matches the existing building facade brick; (b) stone or cast stone; (c) panelled wood with molded details; or (d) metal with molded detail. Corrugated metal shall not be permitted. (B) Display window. A storefront shall have one or more display windows. Display windows shall be framed with wood or metal and shall be glazed with clear glass. Any blocking of the transparency of the glass of portions of the storefront shall be reversible and maintain the exterior surface of the glass. Back-painting or the installation of removable opaque panels behind the glass shall be permitted. The installation of tinted or mirrored glass shall not be permitted. (C) Transom. A storefront shall have a transom above the door(s) if there is sufficient clearance within the existing masonry opening. Transoms are also required above display windows unless it is determined through physical or pictoral evidence that no transom existed originally or if there is not sufficient clearance within the existing masonry opening. Transoms shall be between 12 and 36 inches in height. Transom framing shall match the material and finish of the display window framing. Transoms shall be glazed with clear glass. Back-painted glass or the installation of a solid panel behind the glass shall be permitted when necessary to conceal a dropped ceiling if such ceiling falls below the top of the transom. (D) Building streetwall. The overall placement of the bulkhead, display window and display window transom shall conform to the original building streetwall. A new display window, bulkhead, and door that incorporate external roll-down gates, with a recessed housing that complies with the criteria set forth below in 63 RCNY § 8-04(b)(6)(ii), may be recessed up to four inches to accommodate the width of the gate tracks. (E) Entrance. A storefront with out-swinging doors shall have an entrance recessed a minimum of 18 inches from the building streetwall. The sides of the entrance recess shall be splayed or angled outward toward the street, unless restricted by the property line. Recessing is optional if a storefront has in-swinging doors. (F) Door. A door shall have at least 75% of its surface area glazed with clear glass and shall be framed in wood or metal. Solid, flat (unpaneled) doors are not permitted. (G) Finish. Non-glazed portions of the storefront infill shall be manufactured in, factory finished with paint or enamel in, or painted on site with one of the following colors or finishes: (a) Black (b) Brown (c) Dark gray (d) Tan (e) Dark green (f) Maroon (dark brownish red) (g) Silver (stainless steel, clear-finished, or brush-finished aluminum). This finish shall be permitted only for metal storefronts in buildings specified in the Jackson Heights Historic District Designation Report as Art Deco or Modern Style.
(h)Anodized finished on aluminum shall be black or silver only. Bronze anodized aluminum shall not be permitted.
(4)Signage.
(iii)Types of signs not permitted. (A) Projecting banners and flagpoles. (B) Internally illuminated box signs with plastic or glass lenses. (C) Internally illuminated fabric signs or awnings. (D) Flashing signs, moving signs, or strobe-lights. (E) Neon border outline around perimeter of a window. (F) Signs or advertising added to bulkheads.
(iv)General criteria for sign installation. Installation of the sign shall not damage or obscure significant architectural features of the building and/or the storefront.
(v)Criteria for sign installation at ground story. (A) Ground story signs shall be installed in the sign band, spandrel, display window, transom, or door. (B) The height of the sign shall not exceed the height of the sign band, or, if there is sign band, the spandrel area above the storefront. (C) The length of the sign shall not exceed the length of the frontage of the storefront opening.
(vi)Criteria for sign installation at the second story. (A) A second story sign shall relate to the commercial premises located at the second story. (B) A second story sign may be placed on the building facade either in the spandrel area above the second story windows or centered between second story windows. The placement of second story signage shall be consistent for a single building. (C) A sign located above a second story window shall not exceed 20 inches in height or the lesser of 6 feet in length or the width of the window(s) for the commercial premises. (D) A sign placed between windows on the second story shall not exceed 30 inches in height or 3 feet in length. (E) Second story signs on the facade shall not be externally or internally illuminated, except for neon signs that comply with the criteria set forth above in 63 RCNY § 8-04(b)(4)(ii)(C).
(5)Storefront awnings. These rules apply to the installation of awnings above ground story storefronts and above upper story windows. For storefronts in the Jackson Heights Historic District, the following criteria apply in lieu of the general awning rule set forth in 63 RCNY § 2-12. If a new storefront is being installed and an awning is desired, the storefront shall incorporate an awning in compliance with the criteria set forth below. Existing awnings in non-compliance with these criteria cannot be maintained unless the applicant can demonstrate to LPC staff that the new storefront installation will not require the removal of the existing awning.
(6)Security gates.
(7)Lighting.
(vii)Recessed light fixtures shall be mounted within the soffits of recessed storefront entrances.
(viii)No separate light fixture shall illuminate any sign with internal illumination.
(8)Air conditioners/louvers. Temporary, seasonal air conditioning units shall be installed in transoms over doors. Louvers for built-in air conditioning, heating or ventilation units may be installed at the door or window transoms. Louvers shall be mounted flush with the plane of the transom, and painted to match the color of the surrounding storefront elements.
