LPC to Consider Ocean Avenue Historic District

PLG%20HT%20Houses%2C%2008%20Ocean%20lo%20res.jpg
Fifteen months after Community Board 9 unanimously resolved to pursue landmark designation for a row of historic houses on Ocean Avenue, the Landmarks Preservation Commission will be voting on whether to calendar the proposed Ocean on the Park Historic District at its February 10th meeting. When the campaign began, there were 13 houses in the row, 10 limestone mansions designed by Axel Hedman and three brick houses; now, thanks to the developer of 185 Ocean Avenue, there are only two brick houses left, for a total of 12 in the proposed district. The agenda is not available yet for the LPC meeting a week from Tuesday, but it takes place at 1 Centre Street, 9th Floor in Manhattan.
Ocean's 13: Landmarking Against a Ticking Time Bomb [Brownstoner]
Photo by Bob Marvin

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Ironically, if this had been done more expeditiously, it would have saved a lot of money for the [non]developer of #185. I'd much rather have seen that house saved than to have been able to indulge in a bit of schadenfreude over Mr. Zarchi's apparent financial loss. That being said, the LPC does appear to be moving fairly swiftly on this, for which we should be grateful. IMO this row of houses should have been included in the original Prospect-Lefferts Gardens Historic District 30 years ago. A separate Oceanon the Park HD would go a long way toward rectifying that omission.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 2, 2009 10:25 AM

Buona fortuna to them, this is why we have landmarking. These houses are worthy of designation and protection, especially the Axel Hedman limestones. I hope the LPC's past stalling on this is rectified by calendaring, and then approving the row, so no more is lost to short sighted greed.

Congrats to the homeowners and supporters who worked really hard to get to this point. I'm glad you never gave up.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at February 2, 2009 10:52 AM

It would be great if this came in time to prevent 189 Ocean Avenue from being sold as a development property. Corcoran just dropped the price on that property to $1.675MM but in this market, I doubt anyone is lining up.

Posted by: FlatbushMan23 at February 2, 2009 11:05 AM

Given the financial bath the "developer" of !85 has taken, I don't imagine there'd be many takers for the house next door, 189, as an over-priced development property.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 2, 2009 11:38 AM

Well, I certainly hope you're both right, FM23 and Bob. As a matter of fact, someone stopped me on the street the other day to chat about #189. They said that while they have great interest in the property, they would not make a move to buy it at this time given all the uncertainty about the future status of #185 (and, I'm betting the economy in general).

My dream would be for someone to come along, buy the land at #185 and build a lovely home for themselves that would be no larger than a 3-family -- just like the rest of the strip. I would most surely even welcome a modern, innovative, eco-friendly so long as it was a contextual design. (Ok. I can hear all the laughing as soon as I finished writing that last sentence.) After all, since we've currently got nothing except a big old ugly hole in the ground at #185 right now, we can dream, can't we?

Meanwhile, thanks to Mr. B, and others for your continued interest in this story. Although no public comments will be permitted at the LPC meeting next week, those of us who are seeking the HD designation for the Ocean on the Park Houses would most certainly welcome your presence as a show of the preservation community's support. Even if you can't make it, just know that we'll also accept any and all good vibes you want to send out towards the cause of helping the LPC to do the right thing and vote to calendar the proposal!

Posted by: Brooklynista at February 2, 2009 12:44 PM

I live on this block, and i still dont think these homes should be protected. The brick buildings are nothing special. The limestones are pretty, but sacrifices have to be made.

Ocean is a block full of multifamily apartment buildings, and these limestones are out of context.

In a city with a housing shortage, these limestones should be replaced with nice multifamily houses.

Posted by: slick at February 2, 2009 12:45 PM

"In a city with a housing shortage, these limestones should be replaced with nice multifamily houses."

Are you proposing an eminent domain seizure of private property for a commercial development? Wait... Bruce, is that you?

Posted by: FlatbushMan23 at February 2, 2009 12:52 PM

Who said many of these limestones are not multi-family homes? Slick, that is a ridiculous statement. There are row houses as well as single family homes scattered along Prospect Park West, as well as Riverside Drive, and other thoroughfares in the city. Should all of these be torn down, too?

The very real housing shortage in this city is for affordable family housing. Do you honestly believe anyone would tear down the Row and build affordable apartments? On the park? Please.

Let's landmark these houses, and celebrate their uniqueness to Ocean Ave, and their beauty and pride of place across from the city's greatest park.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at February 2, 2009 1:06 PM

The limestones were sitting on this part of Ocean Avenue at least 15 years or more before the first apartment building arrived. Under those circumstances, I hardly think they can be claimed as being "out of context."

And, slick, I'm not at all surprised you think the Ocean Avenue houses are "nothing special." You've been complaining about the nabe, including seeking advice on how to move out of your building on Ocean Ave. since you first started posting here. My guess is that you are incapable of appreciating the beauty of your surroundings. Just a brief glimpse of the photo at the top of this post should make it clear to you that Axel Hedman created some pretty special buildings when he designed the Ocean on the Park Houses! All I can say is, thank goodness you have no vote on the LPC.

Posted by: Brooklynista at February 2, 2009 1:45 PM

I recently took a long walk through PLG to explore the possibility of purchasing a home there. I hadn't been there since I was a child in the 1960's visiting my parents' doctors. I immensely enjoyed appreciating the classic architecture and I was not at a loss to find people who would helpfully give me directions. It is certainly a neighborhood that I would want to throw my arms around and hug. That being said, it is probably out of my price range, so my search for another property will continue......perhaps Clinton Hill, Bed Stuy or Crown Heights? I am new to posting here and I hope to continue to do so.........gleaning info and insight from the regular posters who are lovers of our wonderful Brooklyn!

Posted by: LoveBrooklyn at February 2, 2009 10:45 PM

LoveBrooklyn,

Thanks for your kind words about PLG. You might want to look at the eastern and southern parts of the neighborhood, where prices are a bit lower, as wellas Bed Stuy and Crown Heights. Clinton Hill is a beautiful neighborhood, but isn't it considerably more expensive than PLG?

Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 3, 2009 9:41 AM

The LPC Commissioners voted unanimously this morning to calendar the proposed Ocean on the Park Historic District.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 10, 2009 5:12 PM

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February 2, 2009

LPC to Consider Ocean Avenue Historic District

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