Brooklyn's Waterfront Gets Boost from Nat'l Trust
In the wake of the destruction of some the Brooklyn waterfront’s most historic structures, including the Revere Sugar factory, the Dutch Mustard building and the Greenpoint Terminal Market, the National Trust for Historic Preservation will today announce that it is adding the entire area from the Sunset Park through Greenpoint to its list of America’s…
In the wake of the destruction of some the Brooklyn waterfront’s most historic structures, including the Revere Sugar factory, the Dutch Mustard building and the Greenpoint Terminal Market, the National Trust for Historic Preservation will today announce that it is adding the entire area from the Sunset Park through Greenpoint to its list of America’s 11 most endangered historic places. The buildings really represent an important part of Brooklyn’s heritage, and it would be a tragedy to lose it, Richard Moe, president of the trust, said in an interview. We’re very concerned that there’s such a rush on to demolish everything. While presence on the list does not stop any of the buildings from death or disfigurement, it does give the issue a national profile and, hopefully, adds to political pressure for government to act on a local level to save an important part of the city’s heritage. Timed with the release of this news, the Municipal Art Society launched a new website this morning called SaveIndustrialBrooklyn.org that details the architectural and historic context for many of the waterfront structures. It also has a very cool interactive map (shown above) with the 411 on over 50 buildings in the footprint of the National Trust’s designation. As Mr. Moe puts it, This is a problem that can be fixed — it’s not too late. As we’ve said before, tearing down these buildings is not only short-sighted but potentially bad business. Their continued presence, whether converted in condominiums or turned into homes for arts institutions and other public uses, will only enhance the texture, and ultimately the dollar value, of the waterfront as a whole. Update: We’ve posted a few photos from this morning’s press conference on the jump.
Brooklyn Waterfront Called Endangered Site [NY Times]
National Trust regional director Wendy Nicholas
MAS head Kent Barwick
Pratt Urban Planning Guru Ron Schiffman
The Brooklyn waterfront has probably the best views of any major city in the world (the Manhattan skyline, Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn and Verazzano Bridges, and river and ocean views). Yet, it’s not a destination of any kind. That’s sad and unfortunate.
10:56 = there are many cities with “parks, marinas or high end architecture that’s postcard picture perfect”. Go there.
“Brand new stinking newbies” are the people who made brooklyn what it is now, and CONTINUE to make brooklyn vital — the thing you’re so “proud” of.
People who’ve lived here for years are complacent and paranoid. Newbies do want change, but they want it with vision. It’s so easy to destroy everything. We’re trying to make something OUT OF what exists.
Your argument reminds me of the ones that patriotic americans make when they’re feeling a tad xenophobic. We’re more american because we’ve been here longer.
Oh shut up fool.
I agree with 10:26. Have you ever seen a postcard of the Brooklyn waterfront that didn’t have as it centerpiece the Brooklyn Bridge? Why? Because that’s all we have. The Brooklyn sucks. It doesn’t have one landmark on the waterfront that represents our borough (other than the bridge) that would make us proud.
Brownstoner, I typically agree with you on many issues but you got this one wrong. I think Brooklynites are looking for a multitude of attractions on the waterfront whether it’s parks, marinas or high end architecture that’s postcard picture perfect. Right now that doesn’t exist.
while you’re at it why don’t you tear down soho and tribeca and hey perhaps you can knock down dumbo and build some cross-island super-expressways. one right through the villages would be nice for the jersey people to come to the nets games. you make bob moses super proud today 10:26
10:26. The most beautiful parts of brooklyn were built and designed by people over a century ago. Anyone alive today that’s building anything in brooklyn is adding the most hideous, ignorant bunch of buildings ever to have disgraced this borough. Take a look at some of the vomit piling up in red hook, South slope, actually ANY neighborhood with a new development or new building. Friggin T A C K Y. I don’t want your old school crap. I want old crap.
There are plenty of beautiful buildings on the Brooklyn waterfront, though of course not everything old is worth preserving. But here’s the big gotcha of 10:26 AM’s “progressive, forward thinking” — new development doesn’t care about “stunning towers,” it cares about maximum FAR and maximum returns. New construction — especially when speculative — is not built better than old construction: it can’t be, because no one will spend the time and money to do it.
Here’s my take: I would support pulling down the finest building on the waterfront in Brooklyn (or wherever, really) if it were replaced by a truly beautiful building. I would make this trade every time. But! this trade happens so seldomly we might as well call it a (European) fable.
10:26 reminds me a bit of Krushchev, who used to find groves of smokestacks beautiful since they were a symbol of power — just substitute 10:26 “stunning towers” or “sports teams” for smokestacks and you get the same mindset. But stunning architecture, by and large, is not built in this country and especially in this city. NYC is about making money, and making nice buildings isn’t really cost-effective.
The exception is parks. There’s great park design going on right now both here and abroad, and I’m glad the Brooklyn waterfront will be a part of that. And — in summation — developing parks and preserving some interesting old buildings are compatible desires.
Do you see what people are putting up instead? Have you seen the Jersey waterfront? Are YOU on crack?
There’s a reason the real estate market is booming in Brooklyn, and that’s because it’s brooklyn. Not jersey.
I kind of agree with the previous poster. The london thames docklands this isnt. Mostly, it is just a bunch of once-functional brick and iron warehouses sitting on land that has probably soaked up a toxic soup.
If a building can be re-used (like Fairway) then let it. Otherwise, knock the sucker down. Nobody is gonna cry. These places were never designed for people (they were designed for unloading goods and making money).