The Personal Side of Dan Goldstein's Crusade
As part of the Gotham Gazette’s week-long focus on the issue of eminent domain, DDDB’s Dan Goldstein penned an essay on the Atlantic Yards project that includes some personal context for what has been a very public fight: Within the [AY] footprint there are four historically significant buildings which are not landmarked. One building, which…
As part of the Gotham Gazette’s week-long focus on the issue of eminent domain, DDDB’s Dan Goldstein penned an essay on the Atlantic Yards project that includes some personal context for what has been a very public fight:
Within the [AY] footprint there are four historically significant buildings which are not landmarked. One building, which I live in, is a renovated 1926 warehouse (pictured) designed by George S. Kingsley with ornamentation inspired by the Egyptian Revival Movement of the 1920s. It’s the only New York example of the ornate storage warehouses that Kingsley became nationally known for (in Chicago his building is landmarked). The Kingsley building and the 1885 Spalding Building, the former factory of the sporting goods manufacturer, are adaptive re-use success stories. The renovated condos in the Kingsley warehouse opened to residents only six months before Ratnervilleas opponents call itwas announced, while the former Spalding factory opened only two years prior to the announcement. The Ward Baking Company Building, built in 1911, is remarkable for its glazed white terra-cotta façade and its storied history of innovative baking techniques in the 1920s. At that time it was called the snow-white temple of bread-making cleanliness. Ratner now has an option on the building coming due in March – and intends to demolish it.
These buildings certainly sound worth saving to us.
Life in the Atlantic Yards Footprint [Community Gazette]
by the way, the ceramic ornaments on Goldstein’s building were designed and made by the same company (Faience) that did the landmarked Atlantic Terminal Building at Atlantic and Flatbush and the ornaments that are landmarked in the NY City subways, such as at Astor Place, City Hall, etc. Why this building isn’t worthy of saving is beyond comprehension despite the changes to its facade. If this was anywhere else and outside the political influence of the Ratner, Markowitz, Bloomberg and Pataki cabal, there wouldn’t be any doubts of its architectural importance.
the same people who don’t give a shit about the buildings on Pacific St. probably wouldn’t have given a shit about saving the architecture of Park Slope, Ft. Greene, etc. years ago. For the most part, the architecture of the Atlantic Mall interests them the most with their greasy , disgusting McDonald’s burgers waiting to fill up their already fat asses and empty brains.
yeah, its on of those “shit boxes”, only one of its kind in New York. Anyway, its a shame Brownstoner pulled this section of the column, read the whole thing and then you might realize that landmarks or preservation is probably the least important issue at stake (though an important one) with Atlantic Yards. And you’ll also see that the idea that it is my crusade,or Puca’s or an individual’s “crusade” is laughable. The only person on an individual “crusade” is Bruce Ratner. Read the piece before summing it up what Brownstoner chose to pull.
Again, someone MUST answer the question (I understand its tough to answer because there is no answer): Why isn’t an 8.5 acre rail yard enough for Bruce Ratner?
Do I see a Fedders home?
Is this one of these famous shit boxes I hear about?
Something told me thst Puca wouldn’t take long to spread his gospel…
…nice building, wrong location.
I say get rid of them (I mean the building), just that Goldstein and Puca can move on to the next topic. It really gets boring….
The building in question has already been significantly altered by punching windows holes and ac sleeves in the wall… you are a few years too late.
More’s the pity. However, a poll of 10,000 random people anywhere wouldn’t tell you much about the surrounding architecture, as most people simply do not notice/care about these things until they’re pointed out to them — and that is one of the goals of landmarks preservation — point out those things that usually would go overlooked as we all hurry about our busy lives and enable us to appreciate them.
I think if you told those 10,000 people about these buildings a significant number would see them as worthy of preservation.
Geez, who cares? Take a poll of 10,000 random people in Brooklyn and see how many of them would miss these buildings. Most surely don’t even know that they exist.
For those of you who have never visited the area, you should, to see what Daniel is speaking about.These buildings deserve to be landmarked.