Landmark
October 28, 2009
LPC Tees Up Phase 2 of Crown Heights Landmarking
Two and a half years ago, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to create the Crown Heights North Historic District, which included 472 buildings on Dean Street between Bedford and Kingston. Yesterday, the Commission got the ball rolling on the next phase of landmarking in the neighborhood when it held a hearing about the 610 buildings bounded roughly by Nostrand Avenue to the west, Brooklyn Avenue to the east, Eastern Parkway to the south and Bergen Street to the north. (The exact boundaries are detailed in this agenda from yesterday's meeting.) Of particular note, the Hebron School complex, which has been considered vulnerable to development, made the cut. From what we hear, 15 people spoke for the creation of Crown Heights North, Phase II, including Borough President Marty Markowitz and members of the Crown Heights North Association!
Ocean on the Park Landmarking: The Details
We gave you the short version yesterday morning, but there's more to the Landmarks Preservation Commission's vote yesterday to approve the Ocean on the Park Historic District in Prospect Lefferts Gardens. In addition to the obvious architectural merits, the row is notable for a couple of historic reasons: (1) the land it's on was owned in the mid-17th century by Jan van der Bilt, the progenitor of the Vanderbilt family in America; (2) one of the buildings, 193 Ocean Avenue, was owned and occupied by Charles Ebbets, owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers and developer of Ebbets Field. Those of you who've been following along know that the designation of the twelve 19th-century row houses was a rocky process, with two of the owners fighting the effort and one City Council Member initially blocking but then acquiescing to the landmarking. The final chapter played out yesterday at the LPC hearing, when the owner of 189 Ocean Avenue made a last-minute plea to be left out of the district. Most interestingly, the Commission held a separate vote to calendar the adjacent lot at 185 Ocean Avenue as a possible addition to the district; this is notable because a developer already tore down the beautiful old house there and started to build a new development only to run out of money in the process. As Brooklynista wrote in the comments of yesterday's post, "Indeed, what the LPC did today was major because it signaled to preservationists and developers alike that the swinging of the wrecker's ball may not necessarily mean the struggle to preserve a historic site has been forever lost."
BREAKING: Ocean on the Park Houses Landmarked [Brownstoner]
Ocean on the Park: Crisis Narrowly Averted [Brownstoner]
Councilman Threatens Ocean on the Park Historic District [Brownstoner]
Big Day Coming Up for Brooklyn at Landmarks [Brownstoner]
LPC Moves Ahead With Two New Historic Districts [Brownstoner]
LPC to Consider Ocean Avenue Historic District [Brownstoner]
October 27, 2009
BREAKING: Ocean on the Park Houses Landmarked
We'll have more details for you in the morning, but we just got word that the Landmarks Preservation Commission just approved the Ocean on the Park Historic District. Past coverage here. Whoopee!
October 7, 2009
Exhibit: LPC Sometimes Digs Newfangled Buildings
An exhibit called Context/Contrast that opened yesterday at The Center for Architecture focuses on contemporary buildings in historic districts that the LPC has approved since 1967. A few of the examples the show is going to spotlight are in Brooklyn Heights, like 322 Hicks (above left) and 125 Joralemon (right). Of course, not all of these approvals have been welcomed with open arms. Per Brooklyn Heights Blog, the early '90s renovation of 125 Joralemon was criticized by a Heights preservationist as a "Disney-like mockery of historic preservation."
Context/Contrast Exhibit [Center for Architecture]
October 2, 2009
Manhattan Bridge Turns 100!
The Manhattan Bridge turns 100 this year and this weekend is the grand celebration. Pardon Me For Asking has put together a list of commemorative events for Saturday and Sunday, to be capped off by a Grucci fireworks show on Sunday night.
Photo by Scott Foy
September 25, 2009
DOB Posts Letter of Intent to Revoke on St. Marks Ave
Here's an update on the situation at 97 St. Marks Avenue that we wrote about two days ago: In response to complaints that were lodged, the Department of Buildings made two visits to the worksite, one on Wednesday and on one Thursday. Yesterday's visit resulted in the Borough Commissioner issuing a Stop Work Order as well as a 15-day Letter of Intent to Revoke. While the owner technically has 15 days to address the specific issues, a code consultant we just got off the phone with suggested that the fact that the letter was combined with a Stop Work Order means that the odds are now strongly against the owner. If anyone can clarify/expand on that reading of the situation, please do.
A Curb Cut on Landmarked St. Marks Avenue? [Brownstoner] GMAP
September 23, 2009
A Curb Cut on Landmarked St. Marks Avenue? Really?
See this beautiful brownstone front yard at 97 St. Marks Avenue? Better enjoy it while you can, because the owner is getting ready to demolish it to create a driveway and garage despite the recent landmarking of Prospect Heights, according to a tipster and DOB filings. How could this happen? We're not quite sure, but here's the initial permit where it mentions converting a portion of the ground floor into a garage and here's an amendment for the curb cut. The whole thing is eerily reminiscent of what happened at 174 Clinton Avenue a couple of years ago. The icing on the cake, according to a Forum post yesterday, is that the owner's kicking out the old lady who sold him the house but continued to live in the garden apartment in order to do it. We'll get back to you with what Landmarks has to say. Let's hope this is all a big misunderstanding! Update: LPC confirms that they have no record of any applications for Landmark approval at this address. GMAP
September 21, 2009
City Council Signs Off on Prospect Heights Landmarking
On Thursday, the City Council voted 47-0 in favor of the creation of the Prospect Heights Historic District; LPC had voted for the designation back in June. Just thought you'd wanna know.
Prospect Heights Landmarking: The Video [Brownstoner]
Prospect Heights Landmarked! [Brownstoner]
Landmarks to Consider Prospect Heights Historic District [Brownstoner]
Photo by Tracy Collins
September 18, 2009
LPC Makes It Official at Alice & Agate Courts
Yesterday LPC head Robert Tierney, Council Member Al Vann and about two dozen people celebrated the designation of the Alice and Agate Courts Historic Districts with a ceremony to unveil two new street signs and an announcement that five residents had won LPC grants totaling $84,000 to help restore their historic, 19th century homes. The grants, which come from the Commission’s Historic Preservation Grant Program and range from $12,000 to $20,000 apiece, are going to be used to repaint, repoint and repair the facades of five homes on both of those streets. Alice and Agate Courts are the 21st historic district designated under Tierney, 12 of which have been outside of Manhattan. Guess how many have been in Brooklyn? Seven. Top notch!
LPC Moves Ahead With Two New Historic Districts [Brownstoner]
Alice & Agate Courts Proposed for LPC Designation [Brownstoner]
LPC to Consider Ocean Avenue Historic District [Brownstoner]
New Bed-Stuy Historic District in the Offing [Brownstoner]
August 4, 2009
Back to the Drawing Board for 72 Poplar
The Landmarks Preservation Committee yet again denied the conversion plans for 72 Poplar Street in the Brooklyn Heights Historic District, as reported in the Brooklyn Eagle last week and the Brooklyn Heights Blog yesterday. Not denied, exactly—the board “strongly recommended" that the owner, Regal Investments, rethink its plan for this former police station that dates back to 1912. The board felt that the proposed two-story addition was too big and that certain design elements were too disparate from the original design. But the committee hasn't voted, and will not do so until they receive a final plan from the owners. Bill Punch, an owner of the building, told the Brooklyn Heights Blog, “We don’t have any plans yet." GMAP
Reconsidering—Again—72 Poplar [Brooklyn Heights Blog]
It’s Back to Drawing Board for 2 B’klyn Developments [Brooklyn Eagle]
72 Poplar Whiplash: Residential Again? [Brownstoner]
League Treatment Center To Take Poplar Police Building [Brownstoner]
Heights Residents Want Precinct Housing After All? [Brownstoner] GMAP
Former Heights Precinct Will Not Go Condo [Brownstoner]
July 2, 2009
City Council Vote Seals P.S. 133's Fate
Despite the valiant efforts of a number of concerned citizens and preservation-oriented groups (Park Slope Civic Council, Park Slope Neighbors, the Fifth Avenue Committee, the Historic Districts Council, Baltic Street Community Garden, Green Guerrillas; the Flatbush Gardener, New York City Community Garden Coalition), the City Council yesterday voted to support School Construction Authority's plan to demolish the historic building that currently houses PS 133 in Park Slope in order to build a new facility from scratch. The full council vote overwhelmingly went along with the wishes of Council Member Yassky to support the demolition; only Council Members Avella, Barron, James and Mendez opposed the plan. What a waste.
Council Subcommittee Hears Case of PS 133 [Brownstoner]
PS 133's Most Desperate Hour [Brownstoner]
New PS 133 Plans Revealed [Brownstoner] GMAP
SCA To Build New P.S. 133, Tear Down Old Building [Brownstoner]
Proposed School Replacement Facility for P.S. 133 [DOE]
July 1, 2009
Prospect Heights Landmarking: The Video
In case you are still basking in the glow of last week's designation of the Prospect Heights Historic District by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, the Municipal Art Society has put together this video about the process that led up to it. The all-star cast includes Francis Morrone, Tish James, Gib Veconi and LPC Chair Bob Tierney.
Prospect Heights: The Making of a Historic District [MAS]
Prospect Heights Landmarked! [Brownstoner]
June 29, 2009
Historic District and AY: Like Pieces of a Puzzle
This map put together by Tracy Collins and picked up by the Atlantic Yards Report last week caught our eye but we didn't have room to fit it in at the end of the week. It very nicely summarizes how the newly-designated Prospect Heights Historic District overlays with the footprint of Forest City Ratner's proposed Atlantic Yards project. Cozy!
Historic District Will Wrap Around AY Parking [AY Report]
June 26, 2009
Restoration of Slope Church Begins
OTBKB had an interesting post on Wednesday about the restoration of the Old First Reformed Church at 7th Avenue and Carroll Street. The restoration crew—30 teenagers and nine adults—came all the way from Ohio and have been camping out in the church. And this isn't the first time out-of-towners have chipped in to work on the church. Groups from Minnesota, Illinois and Ontario have come in recent years.
Volunteers from Ohio Begin Restoration of Historic Church [OTBKB]
June 24, 2009
Council Subcommittee Hears Case of PS 133
More meeting coverage from a Brownstoner reader, this one about a hearing on the threatened future of PS 133. We wrote a post last month that summarizes the issue and there's a petition here. You can also check out the State's opinion that PS 133 is a building of historical significance in this PDF.
Yesterday morning the City Council's Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting and Maritime Uses heard testimony on the SCA’s proposed plan to demolish PS 133 and the community garden and replace it with a large building that will take up the top of the block between Butler and Baltic Streets. The SCA made a brief presentation that stressed the deterioration of the existing building (admitting that it had received little funding for upkeep) and stating that it would take approximately $15 million dollars to “simply address the deterioration of critical building components”. (This was the first time this figure, or any mention of existing building conditions had been raised by the SCA). The SCA called the Snyder school (the first one he built in Brooklyn) “quaint” and “lovely” but deteriorated.
SCA representatives continued their practice of misinformation – saying that they didn’t know if local residents had received requested source documents that describe contamination in the soil and ground water on the school site (the truth is that two weeks ago the SCA told residents that they will have to file for the documents under the Freedom of Information Law – despite the fact that they were cited in a public document); saying that the program for the school will be decided in the future (the truth is that the SCA has maintained in public presentations that the school serve two distinct school districts – 13 and 15 – and have even designed separate entrances for children from each district); saying that they had been in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office on options for preserving the school (the truth is that SHPO has told plan opponents that they have been waiting, since December, for the SCA to provide a cost benefit analysis of new construction versus renovation); and maintaining that they have been consulting with local community representatives about the school design (the truth is that they have conducted two hearings at which residents were limited to 3 minute comments.)
Continue reading "Council Subcommittee Hears Case of PS 133"
June 23, 2009
Prospect Heights Landmarked!
This just in: The Landmarks Preservation Commission earlier today unanimously approved the designation of the Prospect Heights Historic District, culminating a widespread effort by the likes of the Municipal Art Society and the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council that goes back over three years. The district contains 850 buildings and is the largest designation since the Upper West Side got the nod back in 1990. “Prospect Heights is among Brooklyn’s most distinguished, cohesive neighborhoods because of its architectural integrity and diversity, scale, tree-lined streets and residential character,” said Chairman Tierney. “These features lend the neighborhood its unique sense of place, making it a natural for historic district status.” Woohooooo!
Proposed Prospect Heights Historic District Meeting at LPC [Brownstoner]
As Historic District Gets Hearing, Some Politic Omissions [AY Report]
Landmarks to Consider Prospect Heights Historic District [Brownstoner]
ProHi Historic District Could Include Almost 800 Homes [Brownstoner]
Growing Momentum for P'spect Heights Landmarking [Brownstoner]
June 19, 2009
LPC Signs Off on New BAM Performing Arts Building
On Tuesday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission gave a unanimous thumbs-up to H3 Hardy Collaboration Architects' design for the proposed Richard B. Fisher Building, reports the Brooklyn Eagle. The design preserves the existing facade and front portion of the existing two-story building at 321 Ashland Place currently being used by Brooklyn Music & Arts and adds a new six-story structure behind it. The Fisher building will house a performing arts center as well as some more flexible theater and rehearsal space. Work is slated to begin next spring with a target completion date of two years later.
LPC Approves Design of New BAM Performing Arts Building [Brooklyn Eagle] GMAP
June 11, 2009
LPC Gives Arby's Go-Ahead for Historic Fulton Mall Space
After sending the Arby's franchisee with his sights set on the landmarked interior space at 372 Fulton Street back to the drawing board last month, the Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted by a 7-1 margin to approve the modified plans. The commissioners appreciated all of the steps the owner took to address their prior concerns, including returning wood floor panels to a darker color and preserving the mirrored wall. (For more detail, see the Brooklyn Paper's coverage.) The last sticking point was the mounting of a large menu board over one of the mirrored arches; the commission instructed the owner to continue to refine the design to minimize its detraction from the historic space. The owner is shooting for a late summer opening.
City Is Satisfied with Arby’s Plan [Brooklyn Paper]
Fulton Mall Arby's Revealed [Brownstoner]
LPC Sends Arby's Back to the Prep Station [Brownstoner]
Arby's Planning to Take Gage & Tollner Space [Brownstoner]
Rumor: Fast Food for Gage & Tollner Space [Brownstoner]
June 8, 2009
The Great Landmarking Debate Rages On
The Post checked in on the city's far-reaching landmarking plans, which include 10 new historic districts such as the one in Prospect Heights that would be the biggest new historic district designation since 1990. The predictable real estate interests are trotted out to oppose landmarking (Steven Spinola, president of the Real Estate Board of New York, called the expansion "questionable" and said landmarks can "impede the economic vitality of our city."), as are the views of the pro-preservation crowd (Simeon Bankoff, executive director of the Historic Districts Council, said the recent building boom helped spur demand for landmarks. "Communities woke up to losing what they really valued and said we want to become a landmark," Bankoff said.). The article also touches on the notion that the overtaxed LPC hasn't been able to keep up with landmarking requests, as per the losing end of a lawsuit the agency found itself on last November. The LPC is appealing the decision, and "Commission chairman Robert Tierney denied the agency was dragging its feet. 'We're sprinting,' he said."
'Historic' Battle for NYC [NY Post]
Languishing at the LPC [Brownstoner]
May 21, 2009
Fulton Mall Arby's Revealed
After the Landmark Preservation Commission's rejection of the proposal for an Arby's restaurant in the landmarked interior space at 374 Fulton Street on Tuesday, we managed to infiltrate the inner sanctums of the LPC to obtain a photo of the rendering and plans that the commissioners were looking at when they made their decision. The rendering above shows where the franchisee proposed removing two of the mirrored arcades to make way for the ordering counter and neon signs. Check out a floorplan here.
LPC Sends Arby's Back to the Prep Station [Brownstoner]
Arby's Planning to Take Gage & Tollner Space [Brownstoner]
Rumor: Fast Food for Gage & Tollner Space [Brownstoner]
May 20, 2009
Talk of Downtown Historic District Revived
The former Brooklyn Union Gas building at 180 Remsen Street was calendared by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in February but the move might just be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to landmarking commercial buildings in Downtown Brooklyn. According to a Courier Life article, the Brooklyn Heights Association has revived an effort to create the Borough Hall Skyscraper Historic District. The BHA did work with the Municipal Art Society to put together a similar proposal back in 2004, but the LPC decided to cherry-pick five of the 28 buildings suggested for the district. Among buildings the BHA hopes to protect are 177, 181, 185 Montague Street, 186 Remsen Street and 16, 32 and 44 Court Street.
Sky−High Hopes for New District [Courier Life]
180 Remsen Street on Track for Landmarking [Brownstoner]
LPC Sends Arby's Back to the Prep Station
"It might be a square peg in a round hole, but there must be a solution that evokes it better," said Landmarks Preservation Chairman Robert Tierney at yesterday's hearing on Arby's proposed design for the interior landmarked space at 374 Fulton Street that used to house the historic Gage & Tollner restaurant. A majority (six) of the LPC commissioners voted to send the Arby's team back to the drawing board, taking particular exception to their plans for a light-colored floor and the size and structure of the booths and ordering counter; in addition, the commissioners didn't care for the proposed removal of a portion of the mirrored arcade and the addition of certain illuminated signs. Clearly the franchisee who wants to make this work is going to have to break further away from the standard Arby's aesthetic and "look at something more customized," in the words of Commissioner Roberta Washington.
Arby's Planning to Take Gage & Tollner Space [Brownstoner]
Rumor: Fast Food for Gage & Tollner Space [Brownstoner]
May 13, 2009
LPC Approves Fillmore Place Historic District
Yesterday the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted unanimously to make Fillmore Place, a one-block stretch of 29 mostly brick mid-19th century row houses between Roebling Street and Driggs Avenue just north of Grand Street in Williamsburg, an Historic District yesterday. “Constructed for working class-tenants, the architecture of the buildings in this district has more in common with fashionable middle- and upper-class single-family row houses than the tenements that were typically built to house them,” said Chairman Robert Tierney. “The district is an evocative reminder of this period in Brooklyn’s history.” Henry Miller spent part of his childhood at 662 Driggs Avenue, at right.
Widespread Support for Three New Brooklyn Landmarks [Brownstoner]
Fillmore Place, Hubbard House on LPC Agenda Tomorrow [Brownstoner]
Push to Make Burg's Fillmore Place a Historic District [Brownstoner]
May 11, 2009
Civic Council Wants to Supersize Park Slope Historic District
On Thursday night, the Park Slope Civic Council set forth an ambitious plan to expand the Park Slope Historic District in three phases over the next several years; if completed, the effort would result in the largest landmarked area in the city, reported the Brooklyn Paper. Phase 1 would address the area bounded by Flatbush, Prospect Park West, 15th Street and 7th Avenue; Phase 2 would include the blocks between 5th and 7th Avenues between Union and 15th Streets; Phase 3 would encompass the strip between 4th and 5th Avenues all the way from Flatbush to 15th Street. In all, more than 5,000 new buildings would gain protection through the plan. "There is so much of Park Slope that is at risk and in danger of development," said Peter Bray, chair of the Council's Expansion Committee. “We want to preserve everything that needs to be preserved.” The Landmarks Preservation Commission will begin studying the request but in all likelihood will have its own opinions about whether the entire area gets designated. “For a historic district, we look for a distinct sense of place, and a coherent streetscape,” said LPC Spokesperson Lisi de Bourbon. (Click map to enlarge.)
Slope’s District Would Be Truly Historic Under Plan [Brooklyn Paper]
April 21, 2009
Preservationists Give Nod to Poly Prep Addition
At the New York Landmarks Conservancy's "Preservation Oscars" held last night at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan, one of the honorees was Platt Byard Dovell White Architects for their design of the Poly Prep lower school addition in Park Slope. In a press release the Conservancy noted that, "The addition uses materials such as painted metal and limestone in a restrained palette, in sculptural forms that speak to the character of Mansion building and in asymmetrical bays and window openings that connect to the row houses of Historic District." (Photo from Save the Slope.)
Latest Restaurant Additions
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Chickadee Chick
added November 6, 2009 12:00 PM in Park Slope -
Vutera
added November 5, 2009 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Park Cafe
added November 4, 2009 12:00 PM in Park Slope -
Bahia
added November 3, 2009 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Aqualis Grill
added November 2, 2009 12:00 PM in Fort Greene -
Wombat
added October 30, 2009 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Organic Heights
added October 29, 2009 12:00 PM in Park Slope -
Giardini Pizza
added October 28, 2009 12:00 PM in Carroll Gardens -
Rye
added October 27, 2009 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Bati
added October 26, 2009 12:00 PM in Fort Greene