HLPC approves repainting plan for 300 Wall Street (Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center) with conditions

The Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to grant a certificate of appropriateness (COA) for repainting the Wall Street facade of 300 Wall Street — the Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center — on May 1, 2025, with conditions requiring masonry treatment and a mock‑up prior to full application of paint.

Richard Kyle, executive director of the Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center, told the commission the removal of the Uptown canopy and related structural work left the building visually truncated and that repainting the Wall Street facade would better reflect the building's original vertical design. "We did not choose the timing of this, and the communication with the city was not good to begin with," Kyle said, describing the work as unplanned and largely a response to structural issues caused by canopy removal.

The commission noted the building's art‑deco character and the practical limits on the applicant's ability to afford an extensive brick‑stripping restoration at this time. The COA approval is conditioned on the applicant following the mock‑up reviewed by the HLPC and on treating exposed masonry to prevent staining before painting. The commission also required that the John Street facade remain unpainted and reiterated that any changes beyond the approved scope would require further HLPC review.

The motion granting the COA cites the building's architectural description and prior HLPC review history; the resolution language includes the Benjamin Moore colors approved for the mock‑up: BM 1393 (body), BM 1383 (mid reveal), and BM HC‑45 (trim). The resolution also reminded the applicant that commission approval does not substitute for required building permits or other agency approvals.

During deliberations commissioners asked about paint palette choices, whether decorative features would remain unpainted, and how the city would treat masonry prior to painting. Kyle and staff said some prep work — removal of adhesive residue and localized cleaning around former awning anchor points — had already been done and that the center plans to seek structural reports and longer‑term preservation work through partnerships.

The HLPC vote approved the COA with conditions. The approval will remain valid for one year from the date of the vote and is subject to the commission's listed conditions and the building permit process.