Locals Share Love for East New York's Historic Empire State Dairy
The deadline is looming for the designation of the Empire State Dairy so local preservationists showed their love for the building with paper hearts.
Porscha C. Williams and Zulmilena Then of Preserving East New York
Call it a valentine for an endangered building.
With the deadline looming for the designation of the Empire State Dairy in East New York, local preservation group Preserving East New York held a “heart bombing” Saturday to raise awareness about the complex at 2840 Atlantic Avenue.
Participants gathered at Arlington Library to express their love for the site with some old-fashioned crafting. Paper hearts of all sizes were cut out and emblazoned with heart-felt messages pleading “Save Me” and “Save The Dairy.”
Hearts were then gathered up and carried over to the historic site where they were taped onto the building. The group of about 11 posed for pictures and chatted with passers-by who wondered what was going on.
Completed in 1915, the group of buildings is unusual for Brooklyn and has some noteworthy tile murals depicting pastoral scenes. Preservationists have been advocating for the designation of the dairy complex for years.
The New York Landmarks Commission calendared the site in March 2016, but the final vote on the designation has not yet taken place. The commission has until December 2017 to decide.
[Photos by Susan De Vries]
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