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June 18, 2007
Duffield Preservationists Fight Back with Lawsuit
In a last ditch effort to save a group of seven houses that may have sheltered slaves on the Underground Railroad, a group of residents and preservationists (with the help of South Brooklyn Legal Services) filed suit against the city for failing to adequately research the history of the buildings before OK'ing their destruction. The suit charges that the study omitted crucial information about links to the Underground Railroad and demands that a new study be performed before demolition is allowed to proceed. A rally and press conference by Council Member John Liu is planned for later this week.
Suit: Underground Railroad Homes at Risk [amNY]
LPC Turns Its Back on Underground Railroad Houses [Brownstoner]
Undergound RR: Consultants Caught In Another Lie [Brownstoner]
LPC Head Tries To Save Underground RR Site [Brownstoner]
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Comments
thanks for posting up on this; the outrages here are manifold, from eminent domain abuse to transportation (why build a PARKING LOT when there are a jillion subways nearby?) to streetscape aesthetics & beyond... most assuredly including the officially hoped for (but none dare say it) de-blackification of downtown Brooklyn.
while i wouldn't say the status quo is
ideal, the corrupt alternatives are so obviously worse.
Posted by: http://whowalkinbrooklyn.com at June 18, 2007 10:22 AM
It's strange to me that this is still going on. I walked past a few months ago (I used to live across the street) and chatted with Psychic Jason who told me they had all settled for $70 million for all of the buildings. Maybe it was just wishful thinking, or maybe he sees the future
Posted by: k at June 18, 2007 12:15 PM
are those three of the buidlings, because if so, I'm not surprised by LPC's decision as the buildings look to have been altered so substantially that there is not a lot left to preserve. Hence the memorial suggestion. I don't like the idea of a parking lot, and I'm usually for preservation, but if those three buildings are indicative of the rest of the structures, it doesn't look like there is much left to preserve.
Posted by: lp at June 18, 2007 2:12 PM
"are those three of the buidlings"
Yup. Not much there from the original structures but the frames, really.
And bear in mind that the parking lot is supposedly subterranean. What you'll see on street level is a new park. But it's a lot easier to bash this plan based on a 'parking lot' than a 'park'.
Posted by: Anon at June 18, 2007 2:26 PM
Number 233, the wood clapboard one, is the only one that has a lot of charm, hence it's usually the chosen photo op.
Posted by: Brownstoner at June 18, 2007 2:33 PM
it ain't about charm. It's about displacement and the unnecessary destruction of Brooklyn's history and streetscape.
Posted by: Anonymous at June 18, 2007 2:38 PM
it ain't about charm. It's about displacement and the unnecessary destruction of Brooklyn's history and streetscape.
Posted by: Anonymous at June 18, 2007 2:38 PM
I checked out 233 on Google streetview, and I can see why people would be concerned with that one house as it still retains what looks to be an original facade. All of the others have nothing to offer from a historical structure or general streetscape aesthetic perspective (underground railroad history notwithstanding), so I don't see how there could be a case for preservation for any of them other than 233.
Posted by: lp at June 18, 2007 2:44 PM
k, jason's property isn't in the footprint of "willoughby square," the underground garage topped by open space, so his situation is completely different than these properties. also, fyi, i find him frequently misinformed and misinforming, which i find pretty ironic since he is "psychic jason."
Posted by: Anonymous at June 18, 2007 3:45 PM
The suit has nothing to do with landmarking. It has to do with the failure of the City to follow its own environmental review laws.
And Google streetview, as far as I know, is not the final arbiter of historical importance. The majority of historians hired by the Economic Development Council to legitimize their recently released document have come out in favor of preserving these properties. The EDC hired noted historians with relevant expertise, and then ignored their conclusions. And they spent $500,000 in the process.
These properties could potentially provide an important cultural resource to Downtown Brooklyn. Turning them into a parking lot is not necessarily the best way to help the economy.
What's wrong with studying the issue more? The Economic Development Corporation's study provided some important new insights into the Abolitionist history. The EDC document is consistent with several historians who claim that these properties are the best location for Underground Railroad research in New York City.
As the EDC published, more information may become available about this history. Since the City wants to use eminent domain to destroy these homes, the burden of proof should be high. It's not a lot to ask for more research before demolishing the homes for dubious economic benefit.
Posted by: raulism at June 18, 2007 3:54 PM
Raulism, I was talking about LPC's, not EDC's, ruling - specifically whether the structures should be landmarked - which seem to be governed by different criteria than what the EDC should consider (i.e. architectural preservation and significance). Believe me, I'm for preservation, I just see that this would be are hard sell for these buildings with the LPC, with the exception of 233 that has a somewhat preserved facade.
Posted by: lp at June 18, 2007 4:03 PM
Oh great, another...rally. Hell, that'll show 'em. Watch out, world, this fight ain't over yet!
Free Mumia.
Yawn.
Posted by: Anonymous at June 18, 2007 4:44 PM
raul, i believe that your thesis statement is incorrect. that is, i do not believe that it has ever been proven that the city failed to follow its environmental review laws. the supplemental investigation of the historical significance of these properties was done at the request of the city council.
so, the preservationists came out in favor of preservation and the economic development people are pushing economic development...give a wo/man a hammer and all the world is a nail. are you saying in the third paragraph that an underground railroad research center would generate as much economic activity as a garage built in support of three new buildings that would surround it, not to mention the central business district in general?
Posted by: Anonymous at June 18, 2007 4:48 PM
Such outrage over such deviousness and travesty leaves me in shock.
The buildings should be preserved indefinitely for the charm of the neighborhood.
Think I'll go down and start a vigil.
we could have a barbeque
Posted by: Jack at July 26, 2007 8:26 AM
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