Illegal Paint Job on Landmarked Block of Clinton Hill
We just got a tip that someone just started painting one of the brownstones on Grand Avenue between Gates and Putnam white this morning. (Yes, a certain blogger does live on this block.) Something tells us the Landmarks Preservation Commission didn’t sign off on this. If any readers are nearby, we’d appreciate a photo asap….
We just got a tip that someone just started painting one of the brownstones on Grand Avenue between Gates and Putnam white this morning. (Yes, a certain blogger does live on this block.) Something tells us the Landmarks Preservation Commission didn’t sign off on this. If any readers are nearby, we’d appreciate a photo asap. If anyone from LPC is reading, please get on the stick! Update 7/27: Here’s the photo from about 11:20 this morning. The address is 373 Grand Avenue. LPC confirms that there are no permits out on this.
Update 7/29: As the Daily News article reports, it turns out that—luckily—the owner was only repainting the area around the door. While we understand that some people feel it was an overreaction on our part to post about this before all the facts were known, here’s why we think it was warranted: First of all, had the painters been intending to paint the entire facade, every second counted when we got the tip (we were in fact in Dumbo, and not just across the street, when the tip came in, so popping over for a friendly chat was not an option); secondly, we were on the phone with LPC within five minutes of getting the tip, and LPC told us that (1) the owner had no permit for the painting and (2) that he had racked up, and failed to cure, several other landmark violations over the years. All these factors led us to conclude that, on balance, it was not worth taking the risk that something really destructive might happen. You know, better safe than sorry. With 20/20 hindsight, this was clearly the wrong call. Apologies to the owner—our obsession with historic brownstones may have gotten the better of us on this one.
Bottom photo by Rosier for the Daily News
Whew, what an idiot-fest this thread turned into. Thanks, Brownstoner, for so quickly drawing attention to a HUGE mistake being made on what used to be a gorgeous building. I think most of the anti-landmark ranting here was probably written by the same Limbaugh-loving fool, and a few others who can’t seem to grasp the value of historic districts–not worth debating people that stupid.
People in this community worked SO hard and SO long to win the landmark designation that now makes this neighborhood so desirable, so valuable, and so bloody nice to live in. Thanks to them, to Brownstoner, to anybody who reported this to the LPC. If the owner of this building is so dense as to be unaware that he’s not allowed to splatter paint on his house, he deserves all the fines coming to him. Dumbass.
This is a type B violation. The owner will be fined $500. If you own a building that is an historic landmark and you are foolish enough to undertake work without permission or that clearly violates LPC rules, a resulting LPC fine is no one’s responsibility other than your own.
Let me ask you this question, 8:38, if you were the owner and your newly white brownstone singlehandedly devalued every property on your street by $5000.00 each how neighborly would that be? Would you be empathetic?
What I don’t get is why so many people in this thread seem to think they’re entitled to do whatever the hell they want. We have certain liberties and freedoms, but a lot of the crap in this thread smacks of an ‘every man for himself’ attitude. There is a reason why there are rules in our society. If you don’t like this painting rule in particular, as many people have already written, go live somewhere outside of the historic zone. This is not just a question of taste or “decorating”, this is an issue of preservation. It’s very simple.
I am contantly calling LPC to report losses to my property value by owners that would have our neighborhoods go backwards. These homes, these brownstones are single-handedly responsible for the revitalization of Brooklyn. They give us the sense of history and place that we’ve traded on to not just keep Brooklyn on the map but at its center! It is our duty to protect the buildings that define this place we love.
I am contantly calling LPC to report losses to my property value by owners that would have our neighborhoods go backwards. These homes, these brownstones are single-handedly responsible for the revitalization of Brooklyn. They give us the sense of history and place that we’ve traded on to not just keep Brooklyn on the map but at its center! It is our duty to protect the buildings that define this place we love.
So, are the plans in place? Did someone speak to them? Will all you concerned folks go over and help if the owner unknowingly did something that is very costly to resolve or gets buried in fines. How neighborly will you be? A $5000.00 fine can seriously f*** up a person’s life. Is there any potential situation in which you would be empathetic or is it too late for this evil, bad taste-ite?
The pink/purple brownstone on Garfield Pl has been painted for the past 5 years. They put a fresh coat on a year ago. The people who own it have lived here for a long time, I assume before landmarking.
Out of curiosity, If your building is painted before landmarking can you continue to paint it after?
The pink/purple brownstone on Garfield Pl has been painted for the past 5 years. They put a fresh coat on a year ago. The people who own it have lived here for a long time, I assume before landmarking.
Out of curiosity, If your building is painted before landmarking can you continue to paint it after?
Yes, we are most likely all more than one dimension and capable of championing many causes. Leaving a comment here hardly constitutes fixation.
Is your cause “to wake everyone up”. Thanks Dali Lame-a.
at least some people are focussing on it in a positive way instead of you, 8:16.
you have focused as much energy (if not more) than most by posting something so hostile.
it’s weird that you don’t see that.