Preservationists: Heights Cinema Shouldn't be Demolished
There was news recently about how Tom Caruana, the owner of the building that houses the Brooklyn Heights Cinema, at 70 Henry Street, intends to demolish the structure in order to build a new condo, but it turns out Caruana is thinking twice about his plans following criticism from neighborhood preservationists. The Eagle reports on…
There was news recently about how Tom Caruana, the owner of the building that houses the Brooklyn Heights Cinema, at 70 Henry Street, intends to demolish the structure in order to build a new condo, but it turns out Caruana is thinking twice about his plans following criticism from neighborhood preservationists. The Eagle reports on how Caruana decided not to present his plans to Community Board 2’s Land Use Committee:
Both Robert Perris, district manager of Community Board 2, and Judy Stanton, executive director of the Brooklyn Heights Association, told the Eagle that this decision followed a meeting between the building owner and the Heights Association’s own Landmarks Committee. She said that the committee, which contains three architectural historians, did research on the building’s history and came to the conclusion that it was an integral part of the Brooklyn Heights Landmark District and should not be demolished. The circa-1895 building was always a commercial building, but had a varied history, before it was converted into a cinema around 1970. Stanton said that research has revealed that the building, as originally constructed, was made of fine brick, had cast-iron columns and other details that were consistent with the neighborhood. Even though many of these details were later covered up or painted over, she says, “four-fifths of the original masonry still exists.” After the presentation, the owner apparently decided he had more homework to do.
Heights Cinema Plans on Hold [Eagle]
Photo via PropertyShark
the cinema is merely the latest commercial use of many that have been housed in the building.
In the 1950’s it was the “Paradise Diner” before that, who knows?
No one is talking about preserving the existing use except perhaps fsrq.
the cinema is merely the latest commercial use of many that have been housed in the building.
In the 1950’s it was the “Paradise Diner” before that, who knows?
No one is talking about preserving the existing use except perhaps fsrq.
Some of you seem to think that because you like having a small independent movie there, it is an appropriate to use the landmarking process to keep things the way you want it. Sorry but that is completely inappropriate. The building is either historically significant and worthy of preservation or it isnt. If it isn’t, it is completely irrelevant that you think it is a “good function for the surrounding community” or that you do not want another condominium because you do NOT own the property.
Also, I suspect the community is concerned about several other one and two story commercial buildings in the historic district, some of which are ornate and some plain. What will become of them? For example the building where the new French bakery is going to open? or the Art Deco corner building where Corcoran is? or the ornate little building where the Heights Cafe is? What role do these sorts of buildings play in an historic district like Brooklyn Heights? Are they just place holders for a higher and better uses or are they historic parts of the neighborhood?
the cinema building is old. The bricks and mortar joints are of the type that suggest an 1880-1890’s date although they have been painted white.
The little corbled cornice on top, other features, are original. The question will come down to whether the building preserves sufficient historic fabric to possess significance or has it been diced and sliced so much that it has lost its integrity as an historic building?
That will be the question facing the LPC when this project goes to public hearing.
Given the pro-development leanings of the Bloomberg Administration, the preservation of this one-story commercial structure will be an uphill battle.
Even a more heated discussion here!
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/34561#comments
Despicable – and in the long run it undermines legitimate historic preservation.
There is absolutely nothing about this building worthy of preservation but in order to reach their NIMBY goals, people will use any avenue they can to prevent change.
This is one of the reasons why property owners (even those committed to historic preservation) find landmarking so voraciously
Read more carefully? It is the “Heights Association’s own Landmarks Committee” that is involved. So you have a handful of people that are member of a local community group saying that want to prevent demolition. There is no LPC involvement at this time and I highly doubt they would get involved! Personally I would NOT make this particular building a big cause although I would love to see the theater continue on.
no. we never leave Brooklyn Heights. What is this Manhattan of which you speak?