Ugly Politics May Trump Reason in Admiral's Row Saga
We wish this were an April Fool’s joke but it’s not. Despite protracted efforts by the preservation world and a number of alternative proposals, one of the most important pieces of Brooklyn’s history may be destined for destruction. According to a report in Crain’s yesterday afternoon, the National Guard and the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development…
We wish this were an April Fool’s joke but it’s not. Despite protracted efforts by the preservation world and a number of alternative proposals, one of the most important pieces of Brooklyn’s history may be destined for destruction. According to a report in Crain’s yesterday afternoon, the National Guard and the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation have worked out a deal that would demolish all but one of 10 historic former naval residences that form Admiral’s Row along Flushing Avenue; the timber shed (above) would be spared the wrecking ball as well. If this is indeed the case, the short-sightedness and lack of imagination on the part of both parties is truly unconscionable. If the reported compromise on the future of the Admiral’s Row buildings is true we are deeply disappointed because the majority of these buildings could and should be saved,” wrote Lisa Kersavage of the Municipal Art Society in an email last night. “We will continue fighting to save these important structures. And Peg Breen, president of The New York Landmarks Conservancy, hit the nail on the head when she said that The Navy Yard made this an either-or situation, and it didn’t have to be that way. Indeed, the decision to frame the debate as preservation for the elites versus fresh food for the poor was a disgusting, though disappointingly effective, display of populist politics that conveniently pushed all the class and race buttons it was designed to and made it close to impossible to any politician to work towards saving the buildings. There’s supposed to be some kind of hearing to announce the “compromise” later this month. Let’s hope Crain’s got its information wrong.
Time Runs Out for Brooklyn’s Admiral’s Row [Crain’s]
Report: Admiral’s Row Discharged [Curbed]
Admiral’s Row: Up Close and Personal [Brownstoner]
MAS Floats Plans to Preserve Admiral’s Row & Build Market [Brownstoner]
Public Hearing on Admiral’s Row Held Last Night [Brownstoner]
Pratties Have ‘Cake-and-Eat-It’ Design for Admiral’s Row [Brownstoner]
Guard Starts Talks ‘To Come Up With Alternatives’ For Row [Brownstoner]
James Opens Door to (Partial) Admiral’s Row Preservation [Brownstoner]
Officers’ Row Supermarket Not Happening Anytime Soon [Brownstoner]
Admiral’s Row: Feds Must ‘Consider’ Preservation [Brownstoner]
Admiral’s Row: “Extremely High Level of Historic Integrity” [Brownstoner]
Officers’ Row: Let’s Have Our Cake and Eat It Too [Brownstoner]
Officers’ Row Preservation Coming to a Contentious Head [Brownstoner]
For Officer’s Row, Supermarket All But Certain [Brownstoner]
RaginCajun,
The philistines have been wanting to tear this down since well before the current financial crisis. Historic preservation has been proven to have long-term positive effects on neighborhoods and land values. You are falling into the same trap as all the other either-or people–keep a bunch of the buildings and make a supermarket. Hell, if the Navy Yard will give us the space, we’ll put on a mega-greenmarket there that won’t require any money to build. Then they can use the saved money to restore the houses and create a tourist destination.
Let’s raise property taxes to pay for it. To be fair, we’ll make it somewhat optional. Those who who show up at these meetings demanding preservation will see hefty tax increases. Half of that increase will go to upkeep of the buildings, the other half will go to subsidize Fresh Direct delivery in a neighborhood with crap grocery stores.
I’m with Pitbull. Put up or shut up. The Preservationists, especially in this economy with this dysfunctional government, should pay to play. Or at least explain how/why government, private businesses, “philanthropists” or just regular schmoes should make this a priority considering all the other budget problems, tax hikes, layoffs, etc.
Crain’s paraphrased her incorrectly, which is why she sent out the email afterwards.
I was simply quoting the end of the Crain’s article.
Lisa Kersavage, director of advocacy and policy for the Municipal Art Society said that the organization is pleased that at least some of the buildings will saved. However, she says she would have preferred to have all the buildings remain.
I guess she must tell the press(Crain’s) one thing, while she tells her legion of zealous supporters something else. Or Crain’s has it all wrong..
“…one of the most important pieces of Brooklyn’s history..”
you lost me after that…
it’s just some dumpy buildings in complete disrepair, this is no Penn Station.
The timber shed seems like one of the buidlings that is truly beyond repair and not worth saving. Ironic that they are not demolishing it. Probably trying to save demolition costs.
As some of the alternative proposals suggested, you can have the grocery store and some of the buildings.
Lisa Kersavage isn’t pleased:
“If the reported compromise on the future of the Admiral’s Row buildings is true we are deeply disappointed because the majority of these buildings could and should be saved,” wrote Lisa Kersavage of the Municipal Art Society in an email last night. “We will continue fighting to save these important structures.â€
“What’s disgusting is that you blame class warfare and race-baiting for the defeat of one your pet projects.”
We can rebuild him… We can make him stronger, faster!!!!!
Spot-on Six Million Dollar Man!!!
The What (The What tosses Colonel Steve Austin a pack of Skittles)
Someday this war is gonna end…
Why can’t you just take the loss and move on? Show some sportsmanship. Why the need to play sore loser.
“The decision to frame the debate as preservation for the elites versus fresh food for the poor was a disgusting, though disappointingly effective, display of populist politics…
What’s disgusting is that you blame class warfare and race-baiting for the defeat of one your pet projects. You seem to imply that the type of populist politics that trys to address the needs of thousands of poor, mostly black citizens living within a 1/2 mile radius of this project is somehow wrong.
Maybe next time they’ll(you) realize that they have to do a better job of involving citizens in the immediate vicinity of their pet projects. Blogging, Twittering, Email Campaigns, Message Boards and other virtual campaigns only go but so far. At the end of the day, you still have to win over the locals. And they failed miserably at that task.
At the end of the day i think you should be pleased like, Lisa Kersavage(MAS director), that some of the buildings will saved. Follow her lead, gracious in defeat.. And skip the class and race whining.