A Brownstone [Still] Dies in Brooklyn
Back in April, the folks at Cititour noted that while brownstones were plenty protected in neighborhoods like Park Slope, non-landmarked neighborhoods like Sunset Park weren’t so lucky. They documented the dismantling or dismembering of a brownstone on 54th and 6th. Five months later, they’ve got new documents: these photos of what replaced the turn-of-the-century building….
Back in April, the folks at Cititour noted that while brownstones were plenty protected in neighborhoods like Park Slope, non-landmarked neighborhoods like Sunset Park weren’t so lucky. They documented the dismantling or dismembering of a brownstone on 54th and 6th. Five months later, they’ve got new documents: these photos of what replaced the turn-of-the-century building. Kind of resurrects the old progress-versus-preservation argument, don’t it?
Follow-Up to A Brownstone Dies in Brooklyn [Cititour]
Sunset Park is not protected by landmark status. The Chinese are gutting and destroying the homes in this neighborhood. They actively offer way over the top cash deals to get the buildings and cut them up into 10 apartments for slum-like living. The facades of the brownstones are taken off and ugly yellow bricks are put in their place with no regard for their neighboring homes or the aesthetic of the block and neighborhood. The brownstone that was there was in perfect shape. Their is currently a gutting happening on my block just around the corner and there is no limit to waht they might do. A wonton retail shop in the middle of a residential street? Why the hell not?
THESE ARE NO DEVELOPERS! They are wealthy Chinese investors who will house three times the capacity of families in one room efficiencies for profit. It’s gonna be a slum. If the house on my block suffers the same fate, I am outta here.
Taste police, mandating, advocating elitist views, the photo crop conspiracy by Jon and Lisa- oh come on. You’re sounding more paranoid by the second.
You’re trying to make this about the tenants, and you know perfectly well this is about sleazy developers who produce crap buildings that hurt the neighborhoods, and often the people in them who wind up have to deal with the problems of shoddy workmanship and fire hazards. As for who pays for the taste police (not that there will be any, but ok)-maybe we can get some volunteer work out of all the stock brokers and genius financiers who are holding their hands out to the taxpayers for a bailout? (Yeah- that’s about as ridiculous as your arguments).
“I see no contradiction in the statements I put out. These buildings are liked by those who rent or buy the apartments, because it satisfies their current need (as I said).” Nice try at backpedaling but you said “This is the “community” we are talking about here, and, they like these homes. If they did not, developers wouldn’t build them.” That’s a far cry from what you claim to be saying now.
East River;
When I said that “I think folks are more interested in picking a fight with me than being realistic”, I did not mean to imply that folks were picking on me (though I can understand how it comes off that way). Rather, I was trying to say that folks seem more interested in making an argument, in a partisan type of way (if you want to use the polical analogy), rather than discuss realistic approaches.
I see no contradiction in the statements I put out. These buildings are liked by those who rent or buy the apartments, because it satisfies their current need (as I said). At the same time, they do not aspire to live in these buildings as their final home. In other words, they are simply a step up on the ladder for them.
I still stand by my statement that the approach you are advocating is elitist. You talk about mandating aesthetic standards, but completely ignore the impact such a move would have on the cost/price of these buidlings. How about the taxpayers? Who is going to pay for the “taste police”?
In all the discussion above about mandating aesthetic standards, I find it interesting that no one addressed this point.
Why is everybody ganging up on benson, he’s right,
This place looks like a watering hole I used to frequent in Bangkok: Four Floors of Whores.
Boy I could tell you some stories. But hey, that’s for a different thread.
Anyway, just put a pair of neon tassels over the roof line and a brass pole down the facade and you’re in business.
“They certainly do not love this building, and as soon as they can afford better, they’ll be out of it. ”
And I quote: “This is the “community” we are talking about here, and, they like these homes. If they did not, developers wouldn’t build them.” Please read what you wrote.
It’s a strange argument you’re trying to make, “Am I the one advocating that moderate income folks cannot buy a place of their own free will, simply because it does not pass the “taste” test of someone with more bucks?” That’s like trying to make the lipstick on a pig comment all about Palin because you are desperate to make a point. What does free will of the buyer have to do with the crappy taste of the builder? If he were forced to put up a better building, they would buy into that – using the same free will- and get a better buy. Who’s stopping them? You don’t usually stretch so much to make an point. We’ve gone head to head many times and with all due respect, I’m used to much better talking points from you.
I don’t think people are more interested in picking a fight with you than they are with anyone else- this is brownstoner after all. But you come on like gangbusters, make your pronouncements and then act shocked that anyone disagrees. You’ve attacked people plenty of times, with little or no provocation on other threads, so I’m a little amused that you seem a bit thin skinned here.
East River;
I think folks are more interested in picking a fight with me than being realistic. In doing so, you are putting words in my mouth.
I am not stating that poor or moderate-income immigrants, Asian or otherwise, have poor taste, or don’t care about taste. What I am saying is that most are at a station in life where they cannot afford to indulge their taste in a more refined building. They certainly do not love this building, and as soon as they can afford better, they’ll be out of it. So what?? In the meantime, this building will have fulfilled their present and real need.
You call me elitist? Am I the one advocating that moderate income folks cannot buy a place of their own free will, simply because it does not pass the “taste” test of someone with more bucks? Think again on that.
Folks;
I just realized one other thing regarding this story. It seems that Brownstoner and/or Lisa have carefully cropped the photo so that they could spin this story to their liking. Please take a look at the original photo from Cititour. If you do so, you will see that there is another store next to the brownstone on the left in the photo. In other words, all of the buildings in the vicinity of this building, with the exception of the one on the immediate left, have a junky store on the ground floor.
Take a look at this photo, and judge for yourself if this is still an integral row of brownstones, even before this new building.
Absolutely dispicable.
benson- I’m gonna go with bxgrl and dibs on this one. If anyone is being disingenuous it’s you. The argument of not dictating taste is sketchy at best. And while you may not shop Payless, what they do offer, and this developer doesn’t, is style. (disclaimer: there’s godawful expensive style too). Payless sells the idea that style can be affordable and they do sell knockoffs of more expensive styles.
These places aren’t being built because the developer wants to appeal to his “demographic” The only thing you can say when you look at this place is the guy is beyond cheap and doesn’t care as long as it sells. Never make the mistake of thinking this “demographic” loves this stuff- They buy or rent them because they can afford them, not because they like them. It has nothing to do with market appeal and everything to do with squeezing out a buck.
One last point- considering how much the design aesthetic of the western world owes to Asia, I think its pretty ignorant to claim they like these buildings. That’s your elitist arrogance.