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
Why do some of you assume that Manhattanites don’t know their neighbors or understand how to be a part of a community? I haven’t lived in Brooklyn for long, but I know my old Village neighbors very well and it was pretty wrenching to move to leave particularly for this reason.
My parents had the same experience when they lived on the UES side in the 70s and my friends who grew up the Manhattan have extended adopted families in their neighborhoods.
We could all be better neighbors, especially when we decide to comment about our shared borough and end up calling each other idiots and ***holes. I don’t know if Mr. B. works from his home, but it doesn’t sound like he was there yesterday.
“If we’d waited until we got home this evening to go knock on the door, the whole thing could have already been painted.”
Great NYC buildings get defaced and destoyed all the time. I think we’ve all seen this and once they’re gone they’re gone. There is a certain urgency that develops when it seems like a beautiful place may be damaged, whether it’s at the hands of a big bad corporation or an individual homeowner.
The attention paid to this issue may seem myopic, but I would argue that the people who are paying attention to their neighborhoods and local issues are the same ones who read the newpaper, vote, perform jury duty, adovcate for national and global issues, etc.
This story couldn’t have ended up any better – the owner being an 82-year old that has probably lived longer in the neighborhood than any of you busybody @ssholes, including Mr. B.
Maybe now y’all will learn to keep your mouths shut until you know the whole story, but that would be too much to hope for.
Agreed freeform. Yeah, it’s a blog, but there really should be some very basic journalistic standards. Hopefully, Mr. B feels a bit chastened to have the blog’s ass kicked by the Daily News reporting.
What my2cents and ballin’ said.
Seriously, what a bunch of jackasses. It may be time to get a bit of perspective. Talk about crying wolf.
Anon 4:32
To make my point clear. There are several brownstones in our Clinton Hill area that are painted or that have been painted recently and I can provide addresses. And there are much more severe atrocities being built in other landmarked areas, but let someone dare put up white primer on a brownstone on the site owner’s block and that person’s character is challenged, history questioned and background broadcasted. I just don’t find that very neighborly, and it surely isn’t Brooklyn!
I don’t really care for cheerleeders, or d*ckriders, but to address your “blog theory”, it’s mighty funny that the Daily News chose to present another side and more accurate summation of the story. I don’t think the way information is presented on this site is particularly limited to a blog style of writing. Brownstoner, I’m sure will agree that the site has to maintain a certain level of credibility, particularly with sponsors involved.
Mr. B that was a lame apology!!
I can’t believe you DON’T KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS. You assumed that this property was owned by some ominous corporation with bad intentions. When in fact an 82 year old man appears to be the owner.
“this isn’t some old grandma who’s been living here for 50 years and is unaware of landmarks law. this is a company called 373 Grand Avenue Housing Development Fund Corp that was deeded the property by the city in 1996.”
Last summer around this time your frickin’ block had barricades on the block to curtail the illicit drug trade. Now that things seem to have gotten better, residents seem to be doing their part to ‘spruce things up’. From his perspective, the 82 year old man was doing what he could to spruce things up. The Daily News photo doesn’t look soooo bad.
Which brings up a second point. The Daily News photo appears to have been taken yesterday afternoon. 100 posts have gone by since that photo. I wonder why i have to open the Daily News to see a photo when you live across the street. I know you don’t work on weekends, but couldn’t you have posted an updater sooner?
BTW, all of this could have been avoided if YOU KNEW YOUR NEIGHBORS.
such a good point, 4:32 and i just had a light bulb moment.
this thread is a sign that this website has crossed the boundary between a personal blog and what people now perceive as a legitimate source of authority on the subject of brownstones in brooklyn. this to me means that JB has not only created an incredibly successful blog, but he continues to do so by providing content day in and day out which provokes such heated and interesting conversations on this topic.
it’s pretty great, if you think about it. congrats, JB! this thread may have proved a very good point. glad you pointed that out, 4:32.
“…This site has become a personal publicity whore for your personal interest and gain!!”
Ummm…I always thought that the whole idea of a blog in the first place. They are not meant to be an unbiased news source. It is you the reader who chooses to visit the site. If you don’t like what is being said go elsewhere. I bet the content on this site won’t bother you in the slightest then. Good job Brownstoner.
All the new Manhattan transplants and rejects from God knows where that are ending up in Brooklyn just don’t seem to get it. You bring with you your elitist attitudes and snobby aspirations and miss out on what this borough is all about. Community!! Why is this even posted on a f’in blog? This man is 82 years old!! Brownstoner, even if you thought that this house might have been entirely painted, why wouldn’t you approach this neighbor and inquire first about this?!?! Especially if you live on the same damn block?!?! This site has become a personal publicity whore for your personal interest and gain!! It’s truly disgusting. So what he has outstanding landmark violations on his house, should he be crucified for that?!?! Obviously this gentleman is from a different era that most, let the man live the rest of his life in peace. And as someone else mentioned, it really doesn’t seem like you are a part of the same community you are trying to protect, this could have been all avoided through friendly neighborhood conversation!!