Inside Admirals' Row
Urban guerilla photographer Nathan Kensinger recently found his way into the Admirals Row houses and came out with some interesting photos and observations: However, some of the buildings are in remarkably good condition. Their staircases, light fixtures, plasterwork, shelves, mantlepieces and wood floors are only in need of polish and paint. The beauty of these…
Urban guerilla photographer Nathan Kensinger recently found his way into the Admirals Row houses and came out with some interesting photos and observations:
However, some of the buildings are in remarkably good condition. Their staircases, light fixtures, plasterwork, shelves, mantlepieces and wood floors are only in need of polish and paint. The beauty of these architectural details, when compared to the complete devastation in other buildings, is a stunning indictment of the Navy’s neglect.
Lots more photos on the link. Enjoy.
Brooklyn Navy Yard: Admirals Row [Nathan Kensinger]
Pratties Develop Alternative Plans for Admirals’ Row [Brownstoner]
Admirals’ Row: Debate Still Framed as Either/Or Decision [Brownstoner]
To 3:49- absolutely agreed. While some parts of the building seem beyond repair, some just need some sanding, staining and painting. The floors are hardwood, some in beautiful shape beneath all the downed plaster.
To 3:55- I wouldn’t be so sure of that. If he’s entering the buildings to try and document/preserve and he got hurt, what good would suing the owners do? It would reduce already slim funds that could be put toward rehabbing, and would create an even greater negative stigma about the Row than it already has in the controversial save/destroy debate.
I think the most shameful part in all this is that a grocery store could easily fit in just one or two sections of the lot where the most damaged buildings remain (stable, quarters k). The rest gets razed in the name of a parking lot. If we must destroy history in the name of helping the neighborhood- than actually help them. I promise you they would rather housing, or other small stores crop up beside the supermarket. Not a vast parking lot.
Why does Mr. B only quote the portion of Nathan’s post that says some of these houses only need “polish and paint,” and neglect to quote the first part in which he notes that many are in a “state of irreparable collapse”? These houses are in terrible shape. It seems like folly to spend enormous amounts of money restoring them when other neighborhoods in Brooklyn are facing foreclosure. I can understand the desire to preserve history, and under other circumstances, and in a different economy, I’d say let’s all get on the preservation bandwagon. but let’s be honest, and realistic: a supermarket would do much more to serve the needs of the neighborhood than undertaking the extravagant expense of bringing these decrepit old houses, however beautiful they once were, back to life.
agreed that site could be a great turist attraction.
Conversely, whats so special about a new supermarket?
I’d sooner renovate some old buildings then build a new supermarket any day.
Or do you people like supermarket architecture?
If his ass fell in the building and injured himself I’m sure he’d want to sue. what’s so special about Admiral’s Row…seems everything in the past is precious…
It says only that some of the architectural details, like “staircases, light fixtures, plasterwork, shelves, mantlepieces and wood floors” were in need of “polish and paint.”
From the looks of these photos, thats true. Those banisters aren’t going to take much work to repair. Wood is pretty easy to clean as long as it is still in one piece.
And whats so hard about polishing a light fixture? I don’t understand why some earlier comments think its difficult to clean wood and glass….
The superstructures of the buildings are most certainly salvageable, with the possible exceptions of Quarters K,L,H,C and the stable; J’s a total goner (the groundskeeper’s building back by the NYPD impound lot) but for the most part, the exteriors are sound.
The interiors on a couple of the buildings – B and D especially – could be rehabbed with some serious effort and thoughtful planning.
two-fifty-two, get yourself a clue–the whole point of the federal review right now, the thing that is generating all the hub-bub, if that the feds are preparing to transfer the property from the National Guard to the city, which intends to lease the property to the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp.
The trespassing doesn’t bother me so much, but “polish and paint?” Knee-slapping funny. And yeah, Mr. Morris, I’ve restored some properties too.
Actually Admiral’s Row is the only section of the Yard still owned by the Coast Guard. It’s in the process of being handed over to the city, but in the meantime remains government property.
Trespassing in the name of documenting historical treasures should really be the least of anyone’s concerns.