Growing Momentum for P'spect Heights Landmarking
The threat of Atlantic Yards has lit a fire under preservationists to fast-track the landmarking of Prospect Heights, according to a post on Gothamist yesterday. I think with the Atlantic Yards happening, there’s a real urgency to get it designated, said Lisa Kersavage of the Municipal Art Society. The development pressures are increasing dramatically. After…
The threat of Atlantic Yards has lit a fire under preservationists to fast-track the landmarking of Prospect Heights, according to a post on Gothamist yesterday. I think with the Atlantic Yards happening, there’s a real urgency to get it designated, said Lisa Kersavage of the Municipal Art Society. The development pressures are increasing dramatically. After 20 surveyors spent last summer documenting the architectural landscape of the neighborhood, MAS and the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council submitted a database of over 900 buildings to the Landmarks Preservation Commission in January and made a formal request for evaluation in March. Let’s hope LPC gets on the stick! Have any readers been involved in this effort? What’s the best way for people to help out?
Renewed Call for Prospect Heights Historic District [Gothamist]
PHNDC Requests Evaluation of Prospect Heights by LPC [PHNDC.org]
Photo of St. Joseph’s Church by Frank Lynch
NeoGrec, as an AY opponent, you have some nerve accusing others of being alarmist.
The map you have seen is probably of one of Prospect Heights’ several designated “National Historic Districts.” They sound powerful but carry few if any of the protections city landmarking provides.
The neighborhood has beautiful nineteenth century brownstone districts, commercial districts and even manufacturing districts all woven together and relatively intact. It truly deserves to be protected.
Prospect Heights is a designated historic district already. I have seen the map.
If this goes through, it won’t make any difference to the cost of renovating your kitchen and bathroom. That’s just alarmist talk! Go check out the FAQ on the Landmarks Preservation Commission site: Q. “I am renovating my kitchen and bathroom. Do I need permits from the Commission for interior work?” A. “The Commission only reviews interior work if it requires a DOB permit or affects the exterior of the building.”
For more, go to: http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/downloads/pdf/pubs/crown_heights_north_faqs.pdf
If this goes through, it’ll cost a fortune to renovate my kitchen and bathroom.
Sounds like a great thing! Our brownstone neighborhoods need protection. I understand the landmarking of Crown Heights North is moving ahead.
Hi Brownstoner,
There are many things people can do to help get the Prospect Heights Historic District designated. Check out MAS’ web, where we have a Prospect Heights “action center”
http://www.mas.org/viewarticle.php?id=1673&category=4, where have posted the proposed boundaries of the district, more about the history of the neighborhood and sample letters that can be personalized and send to the LPC (please send copies to the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Council).
We need help finding historic images, so if anyone has any please post them to our flickr pool: http://www.flickr.com/groups/383813@N22/
Neighborhood residents who want to research the history of buildings should contact PHNDC.
Lisa