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
It is now 12:27pm and Mr. B is posting about a building collapsing in Carroll Gardens and other stuff, but hasn’t apologized the “illega” paint job of the 82 year old “neighbor.”
You have truly displayed an act of arrogance, pompous, elitist attitude that I EVER seen! You refuse to admit that you were wrong!
You at times, butcher real estate agents/brokers, developers and etc based on your OWN opinion. Not caring for a moment that your “voice” may be detremental to their business.
Well, buddy, let me tell you something, the same can happen to you! YOU STINK!
Pompous ASS!
Also, if anyone at Landmarks is “interpreting” the law then they need to be fired and sued. In the USA interpreting law is soley the purvue of the judiciary. Landmarks must adhere to the letter of the law not make interpretive decisions.
You won’t hear from Landmarks about the painting because they have no authority to regulate it. If you are REpainting (that is painting the exterior the same color as it was) no permit is required from either Landmarks or DOB. I’m sorry there are so many socialist busybodies that want big brother to be involved in such minor repairs but the fact is that is not the way the law currently works. Grow up and leave the tattle-taleing to the kids at the playground.
I would like to hear something from Landmarks. Things like: what are the outstanding violations? And landmark’s interpretation (not posters’ own takes) on whether this is appropriate “repair”.
Looks purple to me. Floodgates: OPEN.
Totally agree with lobot 9:46. Shameful initial post (without research) and shameful supporting comments. An embarrassment to young white people everywhere, since you seem to believe you speak for all of us. I think you should really get a life, or at least a voice, so you can ask your neighbor what he is doing. DUMBO is not so far away from Clinton Hill, instead of freaking out and making a federal case of it (which you totally did), take 1/2 an hour and go and find out what exactly is going on. Tosser!
I’ve gotta say….I had faith in you, Mr B, and really thought you would do the right thing this morning. I’m surprised to find no apologies as of yet. It’s your blog and there are no “rules” to follow, but I don’t understand why you can’t admit when your wrong. That goes for the rest of your henchmen and women as well, who were calling for blood on Friday!
“is it possible that they are just painting the archway? and is it possible that this is just primer?
i mean, if they were painting the whole house, why take such care to cut the archway so cleanly??
Posted by: Anonymous at July 27, 2007 12:42 PM”
seemed pretty obvious to me.
Let’s just be clear as to what the situation is. A man started to paint part of his house, which is something that DOES NOT REQUIRE A PERMIT OR APPROVAL FROM THE LPC OR DOB. The painters put down a primer coat (which in this humidity needs to cure for a couple of days). A nosy neighbor posted a “WARNING” on his blog that this man was somehow in violation of LPC regs (which he was not, the LPC would show “no permit out” on this because no permit is required in the first place), and asked his blog readers to take pictures of this man’s house and admonished the LPC for not getting involved. A newspaper looked into the story and found that, yes, it is just primer and the doorway has been painted already. Nosy neighbor blogger is asked repeatedly why did you not just talk to your neighbor, bloggers response is: “THe point isn’t whether or not this was primer. If he had filed the job with LPC, the scope of the work would have been public record and we would have known within 5 minutes of getting the tip that there was no cause for alarm.
Posted by: Brownstoner at July 29, 2007 8:24 PM”.
A 15 second visit to NYC.gov and the FAQ from the LPC shows that NO FILING IS REQUIRED for painting your house. Blogger edits story to add half-assed apology that still doesn’t address the problem of being such a nosy buttinski in the first place. Posters on the blog try to come up circular reasons as to why they should be ashamed of themselves for not taking the 30 seconds or so to find out if what they are spouting has any connection to reality. “Frank” says that this blog has no responsibility to be accurate because Mr. B draws no salary for blogging and “Anon” trys to blame the old man who owns the house for avoiding the inheritance tax. Christ people, admit you were wrong, issue a proper retraction and let’s move on. To all the gossip queens who are saying we need watchdogs like this in our neighborhoods, all I can say is stay out Crown Heights, if you come onto my block I’ll turn the waterhose on you. If you darken my doorstep, you will be greeted by 12-gauge rounds loaded with rock-salt and bacon fat. These tattle-tales and nosy yentas are the kind of people who would turn in Anne Frank. Get a life wealthy brownstone investors, go out and enjoy all this city has to offer and stop being such a dick to your neighbors.
So according to Mr. Daly, the reporter from the Daily News, this house is located in Bed-Stuy and not Clinton Hill. The whole neighborhood of Clinton Hill is just a fabrication of realtors to sell more houses. Maybe he should venture from his white enclave more often.