« Open Thread Tea Lounge Coming to The Heights? »

March 3, 2009

Demolition of 231 Duffield Street Begins

231-Duffield-Street-Demo-0309.jpg
231-Duffield-Basement-0309.jpgAfter a demolition permit was issued on February 25, V3, the same company that's putting up the Karl Fischer-designed Hotel Indigo at 237 Duffield Street, began dismantling 231 Duffield Street, one of several houses on the Downtown Brooklyn block that has been linked to the Underground Railroad. As the Duffield Street blog notes this morning, while 227 Duffield has gotten most of the attention and is planned to be a museum for the abolitionist movement, there's good reason to think that 231 Duffield has historical significance to the abolitionist movement. According to the EDC report on the subject, houses owners at the time--the Hawes and the Hilles--were involved with abolitionist groups, although there is no documented evidence of their involvement with the railroad itself. The basement photo, at right, shows a passageway underneath Number 231 that many think was used to transport escaped slaves.
Demolition Begins of Historic Duffield Street Building [Duffield Street Blog]
Demolition continues of 231 Duffield [Duffield Street Blog] GMAP P*Shark DOB




Posted by Brownstoner at 9:29 AM | Comments (19)
Categories: Development, Downtown Brooklyn

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.brownstoner.com/mte/mt-tb.cgi/8666

Comments

It's like a ghost town over there. Very sad to see a part of Downtown Brooklyn destroyed. I just hope the Assheads have enough money to finish this project..

The What

Someday this insanity is gonna end...

Posted by: Return of The What at March 3, 2009 9:50 AM

...you sound so warm and cuddly today What

Posted by: boofer at March 3, 2009 9:58 AM

I was going to say: who knew THe What experinced emotions other than rage?

Posted by: Petebklyn at March 3, 2009 10:19 AM

I'm going to stick my neck and and say he does. And a lot of his anger is over loss, although not always well expressed. there's a a very outraged sense of fair play that motivates What. (Don't beat me up for this, What. I have a huge amount of respect for that sense of fair play even when we fight).

Posted by: bxgrl at March 3, 2009 11:35 AM

So they're building a hotel there? I thought it was supposed to be a park...

Posted by: zinka at March 3, 2009 11:46 AM

Bxgrl;

And exactly what was the "loss" this person experienced?

Posted by: benson at March 3, 2009 12:22 PM

The parking lot and micro-park are planned to go from Willoughby to 225 Duffield. The city wanted it to go to 227, but they backed off because of the historic significance. At one point, 231 and 233 were also threatened with demolition by the EDC, but that was a few years ago. There are two hotels across the street going up, and one is fairly well along at 237 Duffield. The hotel at 229-231 Duffield will be the fourth hotel on the block.

Posted by: harriet at March 3, 2009 12:37 PM

benson- I can't speak for the What but I think he sees the changes in his community and the way they are treated. But you'll have to ask him.

Posted by: bxgrl at March 3, 2009 12:47 PM

Thanks, harriet. Since you seem knowledgeable:

How is the park/garage being funded? What happens to the air rights from the properties that become the park/garage? Do they get sold to neighboring lots and used to fund construction?

Posted by: zinka at March 3, 2009 12:59 PM

Hey Benson you know that little project called City Point formally known as Albee Square Mall? The Asshead torn down a good building to build a massive monster and the money has run out. There will be a hole there for God knows how long! There is no more planning just greed and delusion.

"I can't speak for the What but I think he sees the changes in his community and the way they are treated."

I wish you explain who "they" are????

Bxgrl I suggest you stay out of my business and I know you will say this is a public forum but, I don't want to have any dialogue with you.

The What

Someday this war is gonna end...

Posted by: Return of The What at March 3, 2009 1:27 PM

zinka:
"How is the park/garage being funded? What happens to the air rights from the properties that become the park/garage? Do they get sold to neighboring lots and used to fund construction?"

You're paying for it, wouldn't you know it? So far the City has spent over $35 million to acquire properties to build the Willoughby Square micro-park/parking lot. They are slated to spend a few hundred million more. The air rights will not be sold to anyone- the area was already rezoned to make for much higher density.

But the fun keeps going! While CityPoint, formerly the Albee Square Mall, sits empty and looks like a perfect site for a park, if you ask me, the developers are asking for city bond financing.

One group looking into this is FUREE, which is upset that small businesses are being destroyed by eminent domain but they are getting no help to relocate.

CityPoint will get money to build "low income" housing, but the cost per unit is very high- Pratt has some of those numbers.

Posted by: harriet at March 3, 2009 1:39 PM

1.what- if you don't want a conversation with me, don't butt in on mine with benson. And yes- it is a public forum- maybe you should look the word "public" up.

2.And FYI- I referred to the gentrifiers you feel are taking over.

3.So why ask me a question if you didn't want me to answer? Take your meds, what. You're losing it here.

Posted by: bxgrl at March 3, 2009 1:53 PM

Harriet- that really s*cks.Furee is a great organization- I hope they can do more.

benson- you can gloat now if you want to :-) An "I told you so" would not be remiss either.

Posted by: bxgrl at March 3, 2009 1:58 PM

Bxgrl;

Not going to gloat, but I just hope that you now understand what you are dealing with here.

Posted by: benson at March 3, 2009 2:18 PM

benson- I always did. I was trying to be fair. That was my mistake. You can't be fair to a paranoid schizophrenic, you can only offer them advice to stay on their meds. On the other hand, there is no medication to fix his hypocrisy.

Posted by: bxgrl at March 3, 2009 2:24 PM

"Not going to gloat, but I just hope that you now understand what you are dealing with here."

Hey Benson guess what? When I post something you have 2 options. One do not respond and move on. Two respond and engage The What. See how simple that is? This is the foundation of "The What" rules of engagement.

One last thing Benson, where was you when Rob mad those racist comments about the shoppers in Downtown Brooklyn? Where was the outrage at?? You see you come from "Segregated Brooklyn" where people did not into other neighborhoods. I think your happy seeing the Asshats come to the Ghetto and pricing people out.

Oh one more thing to the Haters. Suck the balls!!!!!

The What

Someday this war is gonna end...

Posted by: Return of The What at March 3, 2009 7:26 PM

"On the other hand, there is no medication to fix his hypocrisy."

Oh I missed this! Wait Bxgrl! When did I ever wavered in my belief system???????

Oh now I'm a Hypocrite????? Wow that's a reach!!!! OK Bxgrl mue on..

The What (Bxgrl post porn on Brownstoner)

Someday this war is gonna end...

Posted by: Return of The What at March 3, 2009 7:30 PM

Not just a hypocrite, What. A liar too. If I remember, a few days ago you claimed you would be civil to anyone who was civil to you. I was being civil, and here you still attacked me.

More than that, you talk about Jon like he's a dog, how you hate him and you've even threatened him physically- yet here you are posting all over his blog on his dime.

Keep saying that I posted porn. You're a liar. There is not a single person on this blog who would believe that. For good reason- you've made yourself a full-blown, foaming at the mouth, crazed flake. I try talking to you like you're a human being- I won't be making that mistake again.

Posted by: bxgrl at March 4, 2009 12:20 AM

Given the seeming controversy over the demolition of my property 231 Duffield Street and the subsequent villification of V3 Hotels, Ben Nash and Greg Atkins, I want to set the record straight.

First, I went into partnership with V3 Hotels and Mr. Ben Nash of my own auspices, for there is no historical importance to the row houses on Duffield Street Row Houses because they have been altered and gutted from the inside since 1943. The sidewalk vault under "my building" 231 was installed by my family and we have the original permits. My property of 231 Duffield Street do not have any secret tunnels, hidden rooms or the like.

I am aware of the history of Duffield Street for I was the one who petitioned the Community Board 2 to co-name Duffield Street Abolishonist Place; a fact that is recorded with Community Board 2. However, please also be aware that certain property owners on the street tried to use this history to save their properties from Eminent Domain. But as I said before, my property of 231 Duffield Street has been drastically and substantially altered and its connection to abolitionists is tenuous at best.

Mr. Nash, Mr. Atkins and my objective is to revive downtown Brooklyn. Its hotel projects will bring much needed jobs and capital to the neighborhood in today’s depressed economy.

Respectfully
John E. Donegan, Jr.

Posted by: JED at March 10, 2009 5:16 PM

Post a comment

Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.

Latest Restaurant Additions