A Curb Cut on Landmarked St. Marks Avenue? Really?
See this beautiful brownstone front yard at 97 St. Marks Avenue? Better enjoy it while you can, because the owner is getting ready to demolish it to create a driveway and garage despite the recent landmarking of Prospect Heights, according to a tipster and DOB filings. How could this happen? We’re not quite sure, but…
See this beautiful brownstone front yard at 97 St. Marks Avenue? Better enjoy it while you can, because the owner is getting ready to demolish it to create a driveway and garage despite the recent landmarking of Prospect Heights, according to a tipster and DOB filings. How could this happen? We’re not quite sure, but here’s the initial permit where it mentions converting a portion of the ground floor into a garage and here’s an amendment for the curb cut. The whole thing is eerily reminiscent of what happened at 174 Clinton Avenue a couple of years ago. The icing on the cake, according to a Forum post yesterday, is that the owner’s kicking out the old lady who sold him the house but continued to live in the garden apartment in order to do it. We’ll get back to you with what Landmarks has to say. Let’s hope this is all a big misunderstanding! Update: LPC confirms that they have no record of any applications for Landmark approval at this address. GMAP
Having been subject to the whims of City restrictions myself, I think it’s only just that others are too. Out-of-towners often comment that NYC’s draconian laws turn “a man’s home is his castle” into a joke but it’s the law & we all must abide by it.
Let me clarify my position. I fully support following zoning/planning laws and am appreciative of the landmarking process for historic housing stock. However, as someone who was turned into DOB by a neighbor, I am also highly sensitive to the notion that one can have one’s life turned upside down by a phone call and wouldn’t wish that on anyone. If they have an accepted permit from DOB why are we saying that they can’t do what they want?
“LOL, PHFamily…we should deluge her facebook as “friends.”
No, DIBS, we should NOT. Cripes, this really is some sort of weird creepy mob mentality.
This is a Private person doing something with there home. They bought it, they will have to file permits, etc. and will likely get busted if they screw up/break rules. They don’t need us hounding them on a public forum. I draw the line here.
touche cobblehiller
The permit was issued on 9/21/09.
How did they get around landmarking????
WOW just WOW. now you people are drilling the owner on Facebook? please… find a hobby
*rob*
granted people can google and find out the information easily, but i think posting the person’s facebook link is out of bounds. uncool.
While the refresher on the rationale for historic districts is illuminating, and although I’m super tempted to destroy the 2 or 3 really badly written responses, I STILL think what I thought upon first viewing: it is not appropriate for the call to arms to go out to “get” this person.
I am raising a larger point and do not care to locate it only on this house, just to use the house as an entryway for my point. Which is: everyone has an issue that ticks them off – before thinking you’d be so law-abiding or wouldn’t try to work the system for yourself if you found yourself in a comparable situation, think again.
ok guys – lets unbunch our panties – as per the “update” above – the LPC doesn’t have any applications for landmark approval at this address.