*CANCELLED* Historic Preservation Commission

VILLAGE OF OSSINING Planning Department John Paul Rodrigues Ossining Operations Center 101 Route 9A, Ossining, N.Y. 10562 Tel: (914)762-6232 !?ABCpdf?!0 www.villageofossining.org HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION AGENDA Monday, May 1, 2023 7:00 PM PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: The Historic Preservation Commission will meet in person at the Ossining Operations Center, 101 Rt. 9A, Ossining, N.Y. 10562. The Commission will use a hybrid format. The public may attend in person; however, they will also continue to have the opportunity to see and hear the meeting live through Zoom, and provide comments during the appropriate time. Comments can also be emailed before and during the meeting to Plan@villageofossining.org. The meeting will be recorded, and a transcript of the meeting will be available at a later date. Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/95938183057 Dial-in by phone: 1+(929)205-6099 Webinar ID: 959 3818 3057 _____________________________________________________________________ I. CONTINUING BUSINESS OF THE BOARD A. Discussion: Draft Amendments to Significant Sites & Structures Guide and Architectural Design Guidelines Awnings (3-3-23) Solar Panels (3-3-23) Ramp Amendment (3-4-23) Vireum Amendment (4-12-23) Brandreth Pill Factor (4-11-23 Revisions) National Bank Amendment Historic Preservation Commission May 1, 2023 Page 1 of 27 Agenda Item #A. 3/3/23 Draft Amendment to 5/1/11 Architectural Design Guidelines Awnings Awnings made of canvas, and various other types of materials, often shaded storefronts windows during the 19th century. The installation of awnings can shelter pedestrians from inclement weather and harsh sunlight, reduce glare, and also conserve energy by controlling the amount of sunlight shining onto storefront windows. This advertisement indicates the application of awnings for storefronts and upper-level windows. Awnings became popular in the late-19th Century with the advent of convenient retractable support arms. Facades on the northern side of Main Street face south and that orientation is ideal for awnings. Young deciduous trees along the southern side of Main Street provide lower level shading during summer but upper levels are not protected. For this location, upper level awnings are encouraged as an historically appropriate, energy-savings feature. Page 2 of 27 Agenda Item #A. Though the above photos are not of the same building, it illustrates how upper level awnings could enhance the historic character of this existing, Ossining property (in color photo). If an awning is desired, select one made of soft canvas or vinyl coated canvas. Install it so that it does not damage the building or obscure distinctive architectural features. Over storefronts, operable awnings over storefronts are a flexible, tradi- tional solution. The signage and business front are fighting the architecture in this case. all properties Page 3 of 27 Agenda Item #A. Use shapes and styles that reinforce the pattern of adjacent businesses Use materials that reinforce the pattern of adjacent businesses Maintain dimensions that reinforce the building character don’t do •••• do ••• Obscure visibility Use fixed awnings with cedar or plastic shakes Use aluminum canopies Use glossy or leatherette finished vinyl Historic Districts Use traditional operable straight eave awnings in documented historic patterns Use canvas, vinyl coated canvas or matte finish polyester Match exactly the width of the display window below Cover up existing sign cornices or any historic features Use waterfall or other fixed contemporary awning types ••• don’t •• Page 4 of 27 Agenda Item #A. Page 5 of 27 Agenda Item #A. 3/3/23 DRAFT AMENDMENT TO ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN GUIDELINES …..wind turbines. It is important to understand the function of each item to successfully minimize the negative impact it has on appearance. It is sometimes possible to eliminate features, or to negotiate an alternative installation with the service provider or installer. Careful placement is the first step, followed by various techniques for screening and camouflaging the equipment, minimizing the exposure from the most likely vantage points affecting neighbors or the public. SOLAR PANELS Unless the roof is original to an historic building – such as slate – laminated solar panels integral to the roof such as the above examples are preferable to panels installed over the roof. Page 6 of 27 Agenda Item #A. laminated solar panels integral to roof (above) reduce visual impact by comparison to panels (below) Care must be taken to eliminate or minimize visibility of piping, structure and other related equipment from pedestrian view. A black grid to match the solar panels (in the top photo) is preferred to panels with a contrasting metallic grid (in the lower photo). Page 7 of 27 Agenda Item #A. Equipment placement could be bet- ter integrated with the building. do: •••• •• •••• • • Roofs and Roof features all properties do: Understand the nature of the existing roof sheathing and roof ventilation before replacing the roofing system. Preserve the original roof form including shape, pitch, line, overhang and integral functional or decorative features. Use appropriate repair techniques to maintain, protect and repair historic features, materials and details. Replace in kind materials damaged or deteriorated beyond repair. If possible, limit replacement to the area needing repair. Select a flashing material compatible with existing roofing materials. Use new roof materials that match historic materials as closely as possible in design, composition, dimension, pattern, texture, color and detail. Look at mockups or samples of the proposed roofing. materials in place where they will ultimately be installed. Design new dormers to match existing dormers in style, shape, materials and trim detailing. Keep the scale of new dormers subordinate to the larger roof form. If a roof must be entirely replaced, select materials and installation appropriate in material, scale and texture to the period of the structure. Page 8 of 27 Agenda Item #A. Lengthen the life of the roof and building through regular inspection and maintenance: clean gutters and downspouts, repair flashing, repaint trim, maintain ventilation, fix leaks promptly. Place new paraphernalia such as an air conditioning unit, satellite dish or solar panel on the roof(s) least visible to the public way; use building-integrated features (for example photovoltaic systems integrated into roofing material or solar cells imbedded in glass windows or skylights). Page 9 of 27 Agenda Item #A. 3/4/23 Draft Amendments to the Architectural Design Guidelines of 5/1/11 Retaining walls, steps, ramps and grade changes Shaping land well makes for livable landscapes. The hills of Ossining call for careful design and engineering, sound construction and clever water management. Residents have devised dramatic overlooks, impressive terracing and ingenious step sequences—all contributing to the Village’s appeal. all properties Low dry-laid wall provides excellent drainage for garden bed. This 20th c. masonry wall was a favorite in the Hudson valley suburbs. Weep holes at base of large retaining wall relieve water pressure. do • Make sure you have the appropriate level of professional help when shaping your land. Consult an engineer or landscape architect to assess the safety and aesthetics of a proposed change. If appropriate, commission professional drawings to ensure that storm water issues are addressed and the work meets standards for health and safety. • Consult the Ossining Building Department to learn what kind of professional services you will need to design and file your work. • If your property has trees, and if you are considering a grade change, consult an arborist about what measures you need to take to protect vegetation. You may learn that your proposed construction will affect a tree’s root system so seriously that the tree may die or be too dangerous to keep on your property. • Recognize the impact your changes may have on properties above and below you. Changes may affect views, available sunshine and drainage patterns. • Use sound proven materials for new masonry work. • Follow guidance and requirements from the Building Department on storm water management during construction to minimize impact on neighbors. Page 10 of 27 Agenda Item #A. don’t • Undertake a project on your own without thorough mastery of earthworks issues and techniques on sloping sites. • Allow your land form changes to alter drainage patterns and affect your neighbors. 74 Village of Ossining - Architectural Design Guidelines Sparta Historic District Changes should be in keeping with historic site improvement patterns in the district. Early landowners worked with the lay of the land, accepting natural slopes and using modest terracing to provide level areas; they did not employ our current engineering technology that allows radical changes in topography. do • Repair and maintain existing walls and steps from both original site work and from eras later than your house’s construction date unless these elements are beyond repair or no longer useful. Repairs should be consistent with the construction era of the site element; match stone or brick and mortar color and construction details. • For newer site elements beyond repair, build new features based on documentation of the original site features that predated the intermediate failed elements. • If no documentation can be found, follow masonry conventions from the period of house construction. These may include dry laid stone walls, mortared stone walls, or concrete walls with stone veneer, brick walls or concrete walls with brick veneer. • don’t • Build high retaining walls to support oversized flat areas that lack precedent in your neighborhood. • Place in public view fanciful landscape embellishments. from masonry traditions uncommon in the Hudson Valley. • Use contemporary interlocking concrete blocks and timber construction (so-called railroad ties.) (see appendices for information sources on masonry construction) Page 11 of 27 Agenda Item #A. For a new retaining wall complementing a c. 1910 property, the mason pieced together three kinds of brick and mixed shaped stone. A mockup with sample mortar was reviewed for compatibility with existing masonry before construction. Masonry in good condition, though from a later period than the historic house, should be kept. Ramps Page 12 of 27 Agenda Item #A. The ramps above is not consistent with the existing design of the entry and should be avoided unless the need for the ramp is temporary. The ramps below are an integral part of the steps and preferable. Page 13 of 27 Agenda Item #A. Amendment 4/12/23 Village of Ossining Significant Sites and Structures Guide Vireum Schoolhouse IDENTIFICATION Property Name: Vireum Schoolhouse Street Address: 1 Snowden Avenue Section, Block, and Lot: Section 89.19, Block 1, Lot 7 Architect/Builder: Unknown Date of Construction: 1870 Renovation into condominiums: 1988 Architectural Style: Second Empire (1860s-1880s) Second Empire-style architecture was a style that originated in France and was named for Napoleon III’s campaign to modernize Paris in the mid 19th Century. This style, which is similar to the Italianate style, utilizes elements such as tall, arched window openings, columns flanking the main entryway, and cornices below the roofline. The primary distinguishing characteristic is the Mansard roof, a configuration in which the roof has a steep pitch on the lower section and a shallower pitch on the upper portion. This style of roof was initially designed to provide extra Page 14 of 27 Agenda Item #A. 178 Village of Ossining Significant Sites and Structures Guide living space while not subjecting the owner to additional taxation under French law, as the rooms located inside the roofline were not considered a full additional floor. Page 15 of 27 Agenda Item #A. The Vireum Schoolhouse, built in the Second Empire style, is three and one half stories in height, with a T shaped plan; the larger west wing is seven bays wide and three bays deep, while the east wing is slightly smaller in its dimensions. The left and right sides of the main façade feature sets of four over four double hung windows with arched openings, with a set of three, two over two windows on the center bay of each side of the third floor. All of the window openings on the main façades and side elevations are arched, featuring limestone keystones and springers on each arch. The first floor windows openings on the main façade and side elevations contain a curved decorative motif below each arch. Bands of projecting brick surround the window bays on the main façade and side elevations, with a dentil cornice above the second story windows. The structure’s east wing features slightly different architectural detailing on elevations, lacking the raised brick and around the window bays and containing a slightly different arch profile around the window openings. The mansard roof is punctuated by a mix of gabled and shed dormers on the main façade and gabled dormers on the side elevations of the west wing and the entire roofline of the east wing. Significance: Architectural and Cultural The Vireum Schoolhouse is architecturally significant as a well preserved example of the Second Empire architectural style used in an institutional context. It is also culturally significant for its association with the Brandreth family, descendants of the eminent Sing Sing-based entrepreneur Benjamin Brandreth. Narrative: The Vireum School for Boys was founded in 1870 by Major Henry C. Symonds, a former West Point English professor who was married to Beatrice Brandreth, a daughter of Benjamin Brandreth, builder of the Brandreth Pill Factory (see entry). Symonds later served as president of the village for several years during the late 1870’s and early 1880’s. The original name of the school, Vireun, was a combination of Virginia and Eunice, the names of Symonds’ daughters. At some point in time the name of the school and building were changed to reflect the common mispronunciation of its name, Vireum. It was established as a college preparatory school and was geared toward preparing school-aged young men for entrance into military academies, whose standards for enrollment had become more rigorous following the end of the US Civil War. The school sent several hundred graduates on to schools such as West Point and Annapolis during its years of operation. After the closing of the school in the early 20th century, the structure served as a factory for a time until lying abandoned for many years. It was restored in 1988 and was adapted for residential use, which continues today. Documented Sources of Information: 1. Ossining Historical Society, "Images of America: Ossining Remembered", (Charleston, SC: 1999), 95. 2. Scharf, J. Thomas. "History of Westchester County, NY”, (Philadelphia, PA: 1886), 352. 179 Village of Ossining Significant Sites and Structures Guide Other Photos of Property: Bottom image courtesy Ossining Historical Society Museum, W.A. Slater Glass Plate Negative Collection Page 16 of 27 Agenda Item #A. The massive, ornate brick chimneys and the grand, central west dormer are visible in the historic b&w photo above. The 1988 renovation in the color photos show that the dormer and the chimneys had not been maintained. The renovation plans filed in 1986 do not reference these features so presumably the chimneys and dormer had been demolished sometime prior to the renovation. Brick window in-fill and metal kitchen/bath vents on the roof were part of the renovation. All work took place before establishment of the Historic Preservation Commission. 180 Page 17 of 27 Agenda Item #A. Changes proposed 4/11/23 Brandreth Pill Factory Demolition: 2015 (factory & blacksmith shop) & 2019 (office building). Description of the buildings plus history of the factory and the demolition narrative are contained below. IDENTIFICATION Property Name: Brandreth Pill Factory Street Address: 36 Water Street Section, Block, and Lot: Section 89.14, Block 1, Lot 11 Architect/Builder: Unknown Date of Construction: circa 1872-1890 Architectural Style: Italianate (1840-1885) with Second Empire (1860s-1880s) alterations Italianate architecture, popular during the middle and late 19th century was a style based on design concepts borrowed from rural Italian farmhouses and villas. Between 1850 and 1880, Italianate architecture was used more than any other style in American homebuilding, with the majority of this type built in the Northeastern and Midwestern US. Elements typical to the style include a square shaped central cupola or tower located on a low pitched roof, with wide, bracketed roof eaves, and elaborate, decorative window crowns. Second Empire-style architecture was a style that originated in France and was named for Napoleon III’s campaign to modernize Paris in the mid 19th Century. This style, which is similar prior to demolition (office building foreground, factory behind) Page 18 of 27 Agenda Item #A. Factory Demolition photo Property as of 2023 Brandreth Pill Factory- 1 Village of Ossining Significant Sites and Structures Guide to the Italianate style, utilizes elements such as tall, arched window openings, columns flanking the main entryway, and cornices below the roofline. The primary distinguishing characteristic is the Mansard roof, a configuration in which the roof has a steep pitch on the lower section and a shallower pitch on the upper portion. This style of roof was initially designed to provide extra living space while not subjecting the owner to additional taxation under French law, as the rooms located inside the roofline were not considered a full additional floor. The Brandreth Pill Factory complex currently consisted of three structures: a main factory building (1872); a smaller, detached structure that served as the complex’s office (1886) immediately to the west; and the detached blacksmith’s shop (circa 1890) behind the main factory building. At the peak of its operations, the Brandreth Pill Factory Complex consisted of fifteen structures on its five and a half acre Page 19 of 27 Agenda Item #A. site, some of which were located on a separate portion of the complex 500 feet to the south of the factory building. A number of associated satellite structures were also located on the periphery of the complex. The structures that still remain as of this writing are the focus of this entry. Please see the Property Location Map for information on the original configuration of the Pill Factory Complex. The two and one half story factory building, originally constructed in the Italianate style, received a Second Empire-style mansard roof at an unknown date following its original construction. The main façade’s window configuration varies by floor and was arranged so as to maximize the amount of natural light entering the building. The first floor contains contained six windows and three double doors, while the second floor contains contained thirteen windows. All of the window openings featured brick hood lintels. The second floor contains contained thirteen windows, also with brick hood lintels. The roof level contains contained ten dormers and a bracketed cast iron cornice with pendants, with portions of the framing currently exposed to the elements. Four chimneys are were located on the roof, one of which is was a large, two-story smokestack. The factory is was constructed with red brick. The one and one half story office, also built in the Italianate style, is was three bays wide and four bays deep and is was capped with a gable roof. The main façade features featured decorative, painted brickwork, an oculus on the upper level, and eight rectangular window openings with stone lintels and sills. As was originally constructed, the office was detached from the main factory building. It was later connected via the addition of the machine shop, a structure that was subsequently demolished within the last several decades. The blacksmith’s shop is was one story in height, with a gable roof and brick chimney. The structure has had six rectangular windows with granite sills and lintels. Significance: Architectural, Historic, and Cultural The Brandreth Pill Factory was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and to the local Ossining Historic Registry in 2013. The structure is was architecturally significant as the oldest industrial structure still standing in Ossining at that time and as one of the oldest in Westchester County. It is was historically significant as an example of Westchester County’s earliest industrial development and as a pioneering facility in the field of patent medicine. It is was culturally significant for its association with Benjamin Brandreth (1809- 1880), developer of the Brandreth Pill and his associate Thomas Allcock (1815-1891), developer of Allcock’s Porous Plaster. Brandreth Pill Factory- 2 Village of Ossining Significant Sites and Structures Guide Narrative: The Brandreth Pill Factory complex, formerly located at 36 Water Street, is was an former industrial facility developed by Dr. Benjamin Brandreth (1809-1880) for the manufacture of his Brandreth Vegetable Universal Pills. Brandreth, born in England in 1809, was the grandson of a doctor who had developed and patented medicines for the treatment of common ailments based on the belief that impurities in the blood were the cause of all diseases and that a pill could be devised to remove these impurities. He moved to New York in 1835 seeking to start a business to market and manufacture the pills and established his factory on the waterfront of Sing Sing Village the following year due to its easy river access, proximity to New York City, and natural beauty. Brandreth was one of the earliest entrepreneurs to make heavy use of advertising on a national level, and his efforts proved very successful: the Pill Page 20 of 27 Agenda Item #A. Factory produced 1.2 million pills per year, with each box of pills sold for twenty-five cents. After the Civil War, he partnered with fellow English immigrant Thomas Allcock (1815-1891) to manufacture another medical product at the factory known as Allcock’s Porous Plaster, a product consisting of strips of plaster material designed to be worn on the skin to promote health. A fire in 1872 caused significant damage to the main factory building, destroying the original 1836 structure. At this time, the factory complex was almost entirely rebuilt, and the buildings on the site that survive today are those that were built in the aftermath of the fire. Brandreth sought to integrate the latest technological advances of the day into the rebuilt factory, and one of the first Otis elevators was installed inside the factory building in approximately 1880. After becoming a United States citizen in 1840, Brandreth went on to become active in local and state civic life while maintaining control over the Pill Factory business. He served as village president from 1842 to 1845, as a state senator from 1852 to 1854 and from 1857 to 1859, participated in the establishment of the Bank of Sing Sing (1852) and Sing Sing Savings Bank (1854) as well as Dale Cemetery (1851). Brandreth owned a number of residential satellite buildings located on the outskirts of the pill factory complex. His ornate thirty room mansion Glyndon (demolished 1938) was located just north of the site now occupied by Diamond Dairy. He constructed another mansion known as Cliff Cottage (demolished 1974) on the bluff overlooking the factory complex for his son Franklin. A private recreational center with a bowling alley known as Glen Walden (see entry), also located on the bluff, was converted into a residence in the 1940’s. The Brandreth family also owned a home known as Boxwood House (see entry) just to the south of the complex, and this is still owned by Brandreth descendents today. Though Brandreth died in 1880, the factory continued its operations under the supervision of his son Franklin until 1928 and subsequently his great-grandson Fox Brandreth Conner, branching out to the manufacture of products such as ammunition box liners, fingernail polish, mannequins, and Havahart animal traps. The rights to produce the Brandreth pills were sold to an England- based company after World War Two, while the factory was later used for the manufacture of steel office furniture for a time. Today, it is unoccupied. Demolition Narrative: The factory and blacksmith shop were demolished between 2015 and 2016 by the developer that had acquired it in 2001. Demolition was controversial and contested by HPC because the property was locally landmarked in 2013 in order to prevent further deterioration or demolition. Without HPC’s review, the Village DOB granted a demolition permit in 2008 after DOB declared the vacant buildings unsafe. At that time, the Village did not require DOB to submit the application to HPC for final approval. The regrettable loss of the buildings prompted changes to the permitting process that have enhanced coordination between HPC and DOB. In 2019 the developer applied for a Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish the office building. HPC rejected that application. The denial was overruled via the developer’s subsequent application to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). However, ZBA’s approval contained certain key stipulations championed by HPC generally summarized below: Construction of a publicly accessible pavilion on the site dedicated to education about the industrial heritage of Ossining. The pavilion design will be subject to the Board of Architectural Review. Page 21 of 27 Agenda Item #A. The pavilion will be built utilizing these salvaged components of the office building: sufficient portion of sloped entry canopy, roof brackets with decorative pendant “acorns”, entry doors and frame, window sills and lintels, suitable portion of brick for a future display panel and interior trim as feasible. The salvaged components are to be stored on-site in a weather and wind tight container. Completion of the pavilion will be required before a Certificate of Occupancy for future buildings on the site can be granted. The stipulations will still apply should there be a change in ownership or any assignment of interest in the property. Refer to the ZBA’s 11/12/19 Resolution for full wording and stipulations. Documented Sources of Information: 1. Kennedy, Karen Morey. “Nomination Form: Brandreth Pill Factory”. National Register of Historic Places, (New York: 1979) 2. Ossining Historical Society, "Images of America: Ossining Remembered", (Charleston, SC: 1999), 124. Brandreth Pill Factory- 3 Village of Ossining Significant Sites and Structures Guide 4. Oeschner, Carl. “Ossining, New York” (Ossining, New York: 1975,. 100-109. 5. Williams, Gray "Picturing Our Past: National Register Sites in Westchester County", Westchester County Historical Society, (Canada: 2003), 241-244. Other Photos of Property: Page 22 of 27 Agenda Item #A. Page 23 of 27 Agenda Item #A. Brandreth Pill Factory- 4 Village of Ossining Significant Sites and Structures Guide Page 24 of 27 Agenda Item #A. Page 25 of 27 Agenda Item #A. Above photos courtesy New York State Office of Historic Preservation Brandreth Pill Factory- 5 Page 26 of 27 Agenda Item #A. Other Photos of Property: Bottom image courtesy Ossining Historical Society Museum, W.A. Slater Glass Plate Negative Collection Upper photo circa 1907 a�er ini�al renova�on for the Ossining Na�onal Bank. Lower photo circa 2008 prior to restora�on and conversion to condominiums. Page 27 of 27