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
…last I checked, this property was in N.America and LPC was part of the NYC gov. Apparently, not everyone agrees.
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The whole point is, there are rules and processes – don’t blur the lines of responsibility.
Sorry for the dumb question (but at least it’s sincere); if there’s not central air and through the wall air conditioners aren’t allowed, what other options (other than useless portable units and sweating one’s balls off) are an option?
Mr B. you are a snitch. Fuck off. Socialists like you want every building to be the same like in public housing. people in America appreciate the freedom to have their homes as they wish. You are a bully and should be ashamed of yourself
oh for crying out loud, is that you martha stewart…is it REALLY that bad?
excuse me, but who said the rule is good or even for the common good?? Honestly. Landmarks says a lot of things, and is – rightly – challenged regularly, and they aren’t always right and they don’t always win.
Regardless of whether you like the landmarks regulations, they do apply and the owners in landmarked districts know this. It is what preserves the character, and property value, of the areas. Think it’s ridiculous or wrong to have such restrictions? Then don’t buy in a landmarked area.
Also, the next door neighbor appears to have painted the facade – the door frame is pinker than the rest of the building and there appear to be paint flakes below a few of the 2nd and 3rd floor windows.
are you crazy!! of course post the information. Mr. B, keep it up.
White or not, it doesn’t matter. Places are landmarked for a reason, so issues like this are avoided. This is a slap in the face of everyone else that abides by the rules and maintains the preserved beauty of an area. Let’s not blur the line, the action is either legal or not.
It’s going to be quite difficult getting the paint out of the agacantha carvings around the doorway. Ridiculous. Get the LPC on them. Fools.
I say go after the neighbor next door with the ugly AC units in the front windows.