Updated plans for the Domino Sugar Refinery on the Brooklyn waterfront were recently released, but the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission wants to send the designs back to the drawing board.

The Community Preservation Corporation and CPC Resources (managing partner of Domino site owner Refinery LLC) presented designs to the commission this spring, but the agency took issue with several components of the plan.

The overall project design by Rafael Vinoly Architects features pedestrian and visual corridors along the upland blocks to the East River allowing waterfront access. A 1,300-ft waterfront esplanade will also be added, as well as three acres of open space on the river-side of the refinery for public use. Retail and community space were also included in the design proposal.

The residential component includes 2,200 apartments in the South Williamsburg area—660 will be set aside as affordable housing for low and moderate-income families—spread out over more than 11 acres.

“We used CPC funds to subsidize the property to provide affordable housing and preserve the landmark,” said Michael Lappin, president of CPC and CPC Resources, who continued to explain that community needs in Williamsburg and Greenpoint have moved from manufacturing to affordable housing and believes the area does not have adequate affordable units.

At a recent public hearing, CPC presented its application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for a five-story, 65,000-sq-ft addition to be built on top of the refinery. “The five-story addition is crucial to off-set the enormous costs, only with this addition can we achieve our goal of making 30% of the units affordable housing,” said Lappin.

“What we have is an original building in a ruin state,” said Fred Bland from Beyer Blinder Belle, the architects for the addition on top of the refinery. “We are not trying to hide it, but proudly embrace this addition that honors and completes the building,” he said in defense of the design when question by LPC.

Council Member Diana Reyna, who represents the 34th District in Brooklyn where the new Domino community will be constructed, appeared to support the adaptive re-use of the landmark because “it will open the door to job opportunities.” CPC estimates that the development will create approximately 550 permanent jobs via building services, retail, restaurants and neighborhood services. “We are suffering from severe gentrification and the very existence [of the community] depends on affordable housing,” she said.

Committee members agreed that the scale of the proposed addition is too large, the iconic Domino Sugar Factory sign was not incorporated, the bulkheads are too visible, five-stories is too tall for the addition, the factory chutes were not incorporated and the design is too residential-looking and does not embrace the industrial fabric.

“Overall this hearing was very productive,” said Lappin. “We got issues out and understood what some of the concerns are.”           

Architect Rafael Vinoly was similarly positive, “we have a lot to do.”

In an effort to improve response times and accommodate additional services, the city of Cherry Hill, N.J. is expanding its fire and EMT facilities.

National consulting firm, Stantec, will provide architectural, engineering, design and construction support services for a new station and expansions to three existing stations in Cherry Hill.

The four buildings will range from 9,000 to 40,000 sq ft. Three are one-story fire stations, one of which will be new construction on a new site, the others will be renovations. The new fire/EMT facility will be built along Haddonfield Road, adjacent to the ongoing development at Garden State Park. The fourth is a two-story (plus a basement) fire station and administration building.

Expansions at the three existing stations will include the addition of living quarters, exercise facilities and training rooms. The expansion design will be tailored to the needs of each particular site. Some engine rooms—where a fire apparatus is stored—will also be renovated.

The training facility for the department is currently located at Station #3 and following the renovations, it will become part of a larger building that houses a station, training and administrative offices. The project is going to be phased so that the firefighters will not be displaced, said Stantec.

“The department consolidated six fire departments into one in 1994, shortly thereafter we began to investigate new locations and evaluate facility needs,” said Fire Chief Robert Giorgio. “We also took on and emergency medical service in 2003. We wanted to improve our training facilities and operational command center, and build to accommodate.”

“We anticipate the new locations will allow us to reduce response times to emergencies and reduce the amount of tax dollars being spent on buildings that do not meet our current needs,” said Giorgio.

The $12million project is slated for completion in 2010.