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January 2, 2007

Mothering Brooklyn: Evelyn Ortner

houseWe're not sure if Evelyn Ortner ever read Brownstoner.com, but it's doubtful the site would have ever come into being had the strong-willed preservationist not pioneered the revival of her Park Slope neighborhood back in the 1960s, leading the landmark drive, luring young couples from Manhattan and winning the support of bankers and gas company execs alike. Judging from the piece in Sunday's New York Times Magazine, she might not have appreciated some of the discussions that draw attentions to some of the problems that still face many brownstone nabes still undergoing a process of revitalization, but hopefully she would have taken pleasure in the pure concentration of people who, like her, have an obsession with these old houses and communities.
Mothering Brooklyn [NY Times]




Posted by Brownstoner at 9:29 AM | Comments (7)
Categories: Brownstones, Park Slope

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A truly wonderful person, as is her husband Everett (who, BTW, coined the name "Brownstoner" for the newsletter of the Brownstone Revival Committee).I'm so glad the Times included Evelyn in their year end "Lives they Lead" issue.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at January 2, 2007 9:44 AM

Maybe hard to imagine now but in 1960's
Manhattan was bleeding population far more than rest of NYC.
Brooklyn's bleakest decade was the 1970's.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 2, 2007 9:52 AM

The 70s were indeed the bleakest decade. I bought my house in late 1974.By mid '76 prices had dropped, in the wake of the City's fiscal crisis ("Ford to City: Drop Dead" etc.). By the late '70s crime had gotten bad enough so that people in my neighborhood, and many others, got together to hire private security patrols.

I'm glad I stuck it out and, to get back on topic, that the Ortners were proved to be right about Brooklyn's prospects.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at January 2, 2007 10:15 AM

The early '80s weren't too great either. I was mugged (twice!) on 6th Avenue walking toward the 2/3 at Bergen. I lived for a little while on St. Marks between 4th and 5th. What was spray painted on the side of my building? "Turf of the Savage Homicides". Now 5th Avenue is like a college town...

Posted by: Anonymous at January 2, 2007 10:40 AM

F platform at 4th Ave was always an adventure back in those times.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 2, 2007 1:08 PM

I heard 5th Avenue was still bad even as recently as 5 years ago. It just proves you can't write off a neighborhood or set of blocks simply because it's a little gritty. When (if) change happens it can happen pretty quickly and dramatically.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 2, 2007 3:10 PM

The Ortner's sound like the kind of people one would be glad to have as neighbors, and certainly in a block association or community group. These, as illustrated in the article, are the people who have helped make all of brownstone Brooklyn the desired place it is. We all owe them a huge debt and thanks for making preservation an ongoing concern. Think of countless houses where the trim and detail have been removed inside and out, and vinyl and asbestos siding, and plain sheetrock rooms are de regueur, and then give much props and kudos to people like the Ortner's, Charles Lockwood, Clem Labine (Old House Journal - also started in the Slope)and nameless, countless others who taught people to appreciate and preserve the beauty of New York's rowhouses.

Posted by: CrownHeightsProud at January 3, 2007 12:27 AM

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