Brooklyn Heights

Cries for Preservation at Brooklyn Heights Landmark Anniversary Gala

As many New York neighborhoods grow into glassy forests of skyscraping condos, Brooklyn Heights’ architecture remains largely historic with plenty of sky, a fact which was earned through no small battle. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Brooklyn Heights becoming New York’s first historic district, and the creation of the Landmarks Law, the Brooklyn…

by Hannah Frishberg

12/01/2015 14

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Brooklyn Heights becoming New York’s first historic district, and the creation of the Landmarks Law, the Brooklyn Historical Society threw a sold-out gala with the Brooklyn Heights Association.

Held at the Historical Society’s landmarked Pierrepont Street museum, the event was attended by a cornucopia of New York’s landmark aficionados. It occurred on Monday, November 21, the exact day of designation in 1965.

Following cocktails and mingling with preservation’s elite in the Othmer Library, architectural historian Francis Morrone and founder and chair of the New York Preservation Archive Project Anthony C. Wood spoke of the constant fight to safeguard the city’s worthiest architecture.

“Preservation is being taken for granted,” Wood lamented of city dwellers. “The citizens of New York need to make a preservation a priority.”

“We have a landmarks law because New Yorkers were fed up with what was happening to their city,” Morrone added.

Both speakers encouraged the youth of today to take action, calling New York’s current booming state a “tipping point.” While this city experiences constant change, “These super tall skinny buildings are going to be Waterloo,” said Morrone.