July 25, 2008

Will 'URR Home' Be Part of Abolitionism Project?

According to sources, the city is close to choosing a team to commemorate the Abolitionist movement in Downtown Brooklyn, a project announced last November shortly before the city changed course on its decision to seize a Duffield Street home many believed was involved in the Underground Railroad. While the preservationists who fought to save that home had hoped it would be turned into a museum and included in the $2 million project, its part-owner, Joy Chatel, had been at the same time fighting to stave off foreclosure. In February, the Post reported she owed more than $300,000 to Bayview Loan Servicing. We checked city records and found that just last Friday the debt was transferred to an LLC registered under a prominent family in Crown Heights. Other sources said Chatel could look to generate capital by selling her air rights gained after the 2004 Downtown Brooklyn rezoning that, ironically, paved the way for eminent domain in the first place. The city had hoped to raze the entire half block across the street from the aloft/ Sheraton hotels so a one-acre public plaza and underground parking garage could be built. Eventually, a judge convinced the city to build around the hot-button home where two prominent abolitionists lived during the 1800s.

Councilwoman Letitia James said two of the frontrunner teams in the commemoration project include The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA) and the Weeksville Society with the Brooklyn Historical Society, both of which said they would consider using Chatel's home in their project. We were able to get into contact with Weeksville executive director Pamela Green. While she couldn't reveal too many details about their entry, she explained that the city's money couldn't be used to help pay off Chatel's home. Chatel wasn't aware she was mentioned in either proposal, but was flattered, and declined to give information on the financial status of her home that she's fought for nearly four years to save. But with all the interest the modest four-story building generated—historians from across the country became involved -- $300,000 seems like a small amont to raise for such a unique museum opportunity.
Historic Home in Peril [NY Post]
City Won’t Seize Alleged URR Home [Brooklyn Eagle]
City to Commemorate Abolitionist Movement [Brooklyn Eagle]
Illustration from queenoftheclick.

Posted by sarah ryley at 10:30 AM | Comments (5)
Categories: Development, Downtown Brooklyn, Historical, Politics

July 7, 2008

Backyard Politics: Benches for Barack

Here's one way for Democrats to make a campaign contribution that promises immediate payback. For 40 bucks, Benches for Barack — a grassroots fundraiser advertised on lampposts and on Craigslist — will build you a garden bench. $25 goes toward building supplies and the remaining $15 gets donated to the Obama campaign.

A pair of bright neighborhood kids, 18-year-old high school grads Harry Fishbein and Emma Dillon, build these sturdy benches in the basement of Harry's Cobble Hill home and cheerfully deliver them to doorsteps around Brooklyn, free of charge. The benches are 18 inches tall, 4 feet long, and about 10 inches wide, and turnaround is quick. We received ours, which is painted a muted sage green, within hours of sending an email to Benches for Barack.

Continue reading "Backyard Politics: Benches for Barack"

Posted by Kara at 2:25 PM | Comments (65)
Categories: Brooklyn, Cobble Hill, Craigslist, Gardening, Politics