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]
This is disgusting and anyone who thinks otherwise should be living in parts o Queens where this is the norm. I have seen high density needs satisfied in far more attractive ways. This builder, or someone with similar taste (or lack thereof) has a few similar atrocities in BedStuy and I think I saw one or two in red hook. They look like they should be on the outskirts of Dubai, not flanked by historic brownstones.
Bxgrl;
You are just not talking reality.
The fact that neither you nor I would live in this place is a moot point. The builder did not have us in mind when he put this up.
I am now well off enough so that I don’t shop in Payless Shoes either. This fact does not mean that Payless Shoes does not provide value to those who shop there. If it didn’t provide any value, people wouldn’t shop there, and it would go out of business. Who am I or you to dictate to people what they should buy wrt shoes? Likewise, who are we to legislate to anyone regarding their taste in housing? It is a simple matter, really. This guy put up this building, and no one is forcing anyone to live in it. If you don’t like it, that’s your right. If enough people feel that way, I can assure you that developers will stop instantly to build them. The fact is, however, that these buildings sell very well in certain areas.
DIBS is being disingenuous when he states that there is no evidence that these buildings are intended for moderate income folks. Who are they intended for, then? The Vanderbilts? Please, let’s be realistic. Sunset Park has a heavy, and growing, Asian immigrant population, and that is exactly who these buildings are intended for. Go take a drive to Flushing or other such areas with this demographic.
This is the “community” we are talking about here, and, they like these homes. If they did not, developers wouldn’t build them.
east river, that’s a pretty neat idea.
That’s always been the problem- striking a balance. I wonder if there could be a compromise type of landmarking- so that houses must be salvaged and the facades kept, but perhaps making allowances for FAR so that they could be added to, so long as it kept within the boundaries of period architecture(s).So you could conceivably put up a building as the one here, but it would have to have a period referenced facade, not necessarily a reproduction. But in terms of materials, ornament, etc. So it wouldn’t be landmarking per se, but a regulation of area design.
benson – that’s just gross. If everyone had your attitude the whole city would look like this. Sadly, many people in America do have your attitude, which is why the country is covered with exurban sprawl, shopping malls and abandoned or destroyed downtowns.
Just to revist, there needs to be something between landmarking and a free for all.
In about 100 years there’ll be a website dedicated to the preservation and restoration of Fedders buildings, inside and out. I suspect we’ll see something like this in the Forum Section:
Restoring my Fedders Facade and need to find some of that really ugly brick. Can anyone help?
Categories: Facade
dave- I think this was built by marauding teens!
tybur6…there’s as much chance that these developers are reading brownstoner as there is of the “marauding teens” 😉