An Ode to Vinyl Siding
Park Slope has its brownstones, Williamsburg its vinyl siding. To me, it’s more of a, like, bourgeois town over there, a Williamsburg renter says of brownstone Brooklyn, in this NY Times article about how vinyl siding characterizes Williamsburg homes. While it isn’t always beloved, some think vinyl siding is a testament to Williamsburg’s working class…
Park Slope has its brownstones, Williamsburg its vinyl siding. To me, it’s more of a, like, bourgeois town over there, a Williamsburg renter says of brownstone Brooklyn, in this NY Times article about how vinyl siding characterizes Williamsburg homes. While it isn’t always beloved, some think vinyl siding is a testament to Williamsburg’s working class tradition, an authentic piece of history in the neighborhood. It’s not the most beautiful thing, but it’s real, said real estate broker and investor Lewis Canfield. It’s authentic. It’s tied to the history of the neighborhood. The siding is also practical and because it receives very little upkeep it remains untouched for decades. A commenter in Greenwood Heights weighs in in this City Room discussion: “To all the haters out there, embrace the love that is vinyl! Certainly more historically authentic to many parts of Brooklyn (and beyond) that re-brownstoning or rebricking a home or adding wood lap back in the picture. Metal? Iinteresting, perhaps standing seam…but while my 1880’s frame, wood lap covered by shingles and vinyl, may never be hip, it is real for my Greenwood Heights neighborhood and my household’s budget.”
Vinyl Siding Holds its Appeal to Some in Brooklyn [NY Times]
Photo by The Lizness
Anyone who has ever spent their entire summer vacation scraping peeling paint from wood clapboards, against their will, could easily sing the praises of aluminum/vinyl siding.
That said, as an old house owner, above all else, you should “do no harm”.
Good architecture is a dead profession, or so it has been since roughly the 60’s. I’d never get hired, unless I was building knockoff Victorians in Celebration, Florida. That’s why I must bitch with pride and passion to save what’s left in NYC.
Although I agree with your sentiments on the developers razing homes and leaving empty lots. Hot Karl Beach in the Burg gets worst eyesore of the century.
For now, I will side with the vinyl, only because it is better than Le Bourghetto Condo.
“However, the majority are boxes, poorly built ones that are cramped and just as dangerous as say, any of these supposed cinderboxes that have withstood 2 centuries.”
such a monday morning quarterback – maybe you should become an architect rather than a preservationist? you could actually help your cause rather than just bitching about it.
“It is plain stupid. I mean the vast majority of these houses have no architectural quality ”
yeah – that’s fine. then tear the stupid things down, build something and price it realistically so people will actually live in it.
i’m by no means a preservationist – but fact is developers razed entire blocks of these buildings in Williamsburg and let the sites rot for years. i’d much rather have a row of quaint, architecturally insignificant, well maintained homes in my neighborhood than an empty lot strewn with garbage and construction debris. Or a finished building priced $300psf too high for the location/market.
Come on, Denton – what if the sprinklers malfunction? 🙂
you mean a new steel frame condo is more dangerous than a wood frame home that is 100+ years old? Really? How so?
I really just want New York to look like Boca Raton, that’s all I’m saying.
There are some decent new condos, ones with retail outlets on their ground floors and generally designed with a little more thought in regards to urban planning. However, the majority are boxes, poorly built ones that are cramped and just as dangerous as say, any of these supposed cinderboxes that have withstood 2 centuries.
“they are not and were not particularly sturdy construction and they do not offer their occupants anything special in terms of air, space or comfort.”
oh please, fsrq, your quote could just as easily be conferred upon some of the condoboxes going up all over the borough, including near here. New doesn’t mean superior any more than old does. DH’s opinion is just as valuable as yours. It is not “stupid”.
thwackamole, I think that the Landmarks Commission is looking for a genius like you to lead them. I would contact them asap and tell them about your idea of allowing brownstones to be covered in vinyl siding.
That is just the kind of brilliant innovation that they so highly value.