Fundamental to any proposed redevelopment of a historic property is an understanding of its history and historical context. While planning boards focus on adherence to zoning laws, preservation commissions focus on historical appropriateness. Depending on an owner or architect's needs, GDPC can provide the requisite "behind-the-scenes" research to inform a winning redevelopment proposal. GDPC's work on 399 West Broadway in New York City's Soho Cast-Iron District for ABS Partners Real Estate and DXA studio entailed an exhaustive analysis of storefronts in mixed-use buildings designed in the Federal style. Bolstered by DXA's structural analysis, GDPC's research led to a successful redesign of the storefront that was part of a larger rehabilitation effort that revitalized one of Soho's oldest buildings.