City to govern window placements after Norah Jones’ home causes stir

Spurred by Norah Jones’ controversial renovation to her Cobble Hill home, the city will now govern the number of windows residences are permitted to have, the Brooklyn Paper reported. When Jones bought the $4.99 million townhouse in 2009, she filed paperwork to perform “minor” renovations on her home that was approved after a public hearing, but then submitted an amendment that would add 10 windows into the blank side of her home that didn’t need to go through a new hearing. Neighbors were upset with the design, which stood out from the rest of the neighborhood, so Jones compromised and added just seven windows. But locals were still upset with the loophole. Now the city will require any alterations to the exterior of a home in a “historically residential” area to be presented before the Landmarks Preservation Commission. [Brooklyn Paper]