Inside the Naval Hospital
[nggallery id=”29053″ template=galleryview] The Kingston Lounge, a relatively new blog on the block, yesterday posted some incredible photos from inside the hospital at the Navy Yard along with a nice historical overview of the property dating back to 1824 when it was a farm purchased by the Secretary of the Navy. The first two photos…
[nggallery id=”29053″ template=galleryview]
The Kingston Lounge, a relatively new blog on the block, yesterday posted some incredible photos from inside the hospital at the Navy Yard along with a nice historical overview of the property dating back to 1824 when it was a farm purchased by the Secretary of the Navy. The first two photos above are from the Surgeon’s Residence and the other three are from the Hospital itself. Click through the link below for more great photos.
The Brooklyn Navy Yard Hospital Complex [Kingston Lounge]
I have been in a few of the houses slated for tearing down. From my experience with buildings I’d say they are way beyond saving. They are completely stripped of all marble, decorative elements, pipes, etc…Where does anyone suggest the money come from to “save” these structures? You can indeed find these exact homes on many Federal bases, Ft Myer, Ft Leavenworth – they were not unique examples of anything before the Federals pillaged and let fall to ruin.
The Yard is renovating that beautiful building right at the bottom of Clermont (I believe) right next to the huge white building housing Surround Art – it’s to become a archive/museum and will be open to the public.
As to the Hospital, there are no services into that part of the Yard of any kind – no wires or pipes of any kind. The Steiner studios are actually talking with the Yard to take over part of that area…
It’s high time to move on – the Navy Yard is not evil, the people running it do a fine job. Bring the neighborhood the services it needs, not wasteful spending to preserve/rescue something long past preservation.
Well, that’s part of the landmark dilemma, isn’t it. When does the once ordinary become old or rare enough to merit preservation? We certainly wouldn’t want to have no extant colonial homes simply because they were once ordinary.
Last I read, there is actually only a single unrenovated Levittown house left. Since Levittown was the first developement of its kind, that single house is in fact rare, old (relatively) and not so ordinary.
Still, though, I agree — there’s a stronger case to be made for preserving the Naval Hospital over the Admiral row houses, especially considering the extraordinary cost of essentially rebuilding the Admiral houses.
The Admiral row houses are still owned by the US Government who has neglected them. The Naval hospital and the Surgeons house WERE transferred to the City(and to the Navy Yard Corp) many years ago. the Navy yard maintains these but not the Admiral row houses that are the province of the US Army National Guard bureau(this is so strange you would think I made it up). The Admiral row houses may be nice but they really are pretty much standard middle class government issue housing of the turn of the 19th century. Many of these still exist. Governors island has a load of them. Losing them is not like losing the Naval Hospital which is rather unique…
Do you think Levittown should be landmarked?
1929… turning the buildings into a back lot is a great idea. These are amazing locations.
The photographs of the Navy Yard on the Kingston Lounge are the best I’ve seen. Very well-crafted and considered.
P Heights, I recall that article.
And I know that most of the top folks at the Navy Yard come out of EDC so I doubt they would take a pay cut when promoted to the navy yard. The idea behind EDC is that it is supposed to be run on a business model, but maybe they gave up on that.
Even the top guy at the Navy yard does not get a bonus.
Also I’m pretty sure that EDC mangers do not get bonuses anymore either. They used to, but there there was some article about it in the press in the late 90’s and it created a scandal, so they stopped doing it. They may have re-instituted it, but I doubt that.
Clinton Hill-based photographer David Sokosh did an amazing series of tintypes of the Navy Yard Hospital a year or so ago. Check them out at underbridgepictures.com. I believe David’s also a regular at the Dumbo flea.
It’s a crime that the building hasn’t been restored. Maybe Steiner Studios could turn it into an authentic 19th century back lot. Don’t y’all scream at the heresy — at least this might turn the place into a going concern.
Yes, those photos are unreal.
Not sure how those buildings could be viable as anything like a hotel or B&B right now. Who would stay over there even if the buildings were completely restored? It’s not a pleasant part of town and there’s no convenient transportation. But if Steiner now owns them, they must be planning to at least do the minimum to keep them standing, yes?
I love the shots of the staircases- so Piranesiesque! (is that a word????) Or do I mean Escheresque?