Since the Landmarks Preservation Commission announced in its January newsletter that it was postponing plans to create historic districts in Beverly Square West and Ditmas Park West, preservationists in Victorian Flatbush have been accusing the group of unfairly favoring Brooklyn’s brownstone neighborhoods. (The LPC is moving full-speed-ahead to expand protection in Park Slope and Fort Greene.) “The [LPC] has limited resources, but it shouldn’t be to the exclusion of the Victorian neighborhoods,” said Ditmas Park West Neighborhood Association president Joel Siegel. “If it’s worthy, they should fund it and do it.” Even Marty has weighed in on the issue, saying, “”It is not appropriate public policy to place [Victorian Flatbush] on hold while purely Brownstone Brooklyn is pursued.” According to The Daily News, the LPC defends the prioritization by pointing out that it landmarked two small areas of Flatbush in 2008 and that the current areas seeking protection have a large number of structures that have already been altered.
Victorian Flatbush Bashes Brownstone Bias in LPC [NY Daily News]
Photo by Flatbush Gardener