213 Cumberland Slinks Back to LPC
Apparently someone blew the whistle on the owners of 213 Cumberland Street in Fort Greene for altering the fence around their brownstone. (The inset photo shows how the fence looked last year before the alterations.) The violation was particularly noticeable because of the property’s corner location across the street from the entrance to Fort Greene…
Apparently someone blew the whistle on the owners of 213 Cumberland Street in Fort Greene for altering the fence around their brownstone. (The inset photo shows how the fence looked last year before the alterations.) The violation was particularly noticeable because of the property’s corner location across the street from the entrance to Fort Greene Park. (According to LPC, the owners also put in some new windows without getting them approved first.) As a result, they’re going in front of LPC today to try to get retroactive approval. Frankly, we think this fence looks a little silly and is too prominent to let slide. We bet Olde Good Things has some old iron fencing in its warehouse that would look a lot better. Update: We just heard from LPC that the hearing on 213 Cumberland ended up getting laid over until next week.
Agenda 2/26/08 [Landmarks Preservation Commission] GMAP
Photo by Scott Bintner for PropertyShark
If this were in Carroll Gardens, there would be 10 pink flamingos behind the fence.
If this was Carroll Gardens it would have a nativity scene in it.
Um, you guys?
It’s the SAME FENCE. The white balusters have been painted black, and the cast-iron arrows added above. It looks to me like there is supposed to be a cast-iron bannister (not sure if that’s the right word when it’s not a staircase) atop the balusters.
I think it’s a little over the top, but certainly more in keeping with the area’s historic style than your remarks imply. No question they shoulda run it by LPC, though — the financial risks alone of having to do it over make that a no-brainer.
To me it looks like they just painted the old and added on top…most likely for a bit more security. Looks fine to me.
I remember what this place looked like in 2000–a complete wreck with a huge bulging brick side wall and missing windows and then they finally put up a sidewalk shed after many complaints.
The house has been significantly improved since then and I’m sure the whole Landmarks/reno job has been exhausting.
The fence does look silly and it should have a Landmarks violation for it. BUT these people are far from “evil” or “kniving” for putting this fence up. They’ve done an excellent job up unitl this point.
Something to keep in mind.
so they would make them take the better looking one down out of spite because they didn’t get it approved first?
lpc sounds a bit too much like a nazi regime to me.
so they f*cked up. it looks better. people make mistakes.
if they don’t approve the new one, please do keep us posted. i’ll be writing a letter to lpc myself.
The standard isn’t whether they made a marginal improvement; it’s that any improvement like this must be approved by LPC before it’s done.
Agrees the old picture looked like bowling pins setup around the walk. The new one is much much better. LPC is idiotic if the don’t approve this vast improvement.
Looks like they also cut down a tree or two.