Landmarking Tensions Build in Carroll Gardens
A fight is brewing in Carroll Gardens over a growing movement to expand the two-block stretch of landmarked area to include more of the neighborhood’s old houses. Predictably, the battle appears to forming along class and generation lines, with the more working-class old-timers bristling at the loss of control over their own homes. “I bought…
A fight is brewing in Carroll Gardens over a growing movement to expand the two-block stretch of landmarked area to include more of the neighborhood’s old houses. Predictably, the battle appears to forming along class and generation lines, with the more working-class old-timers bristling at the loss of control over their own homes. “I bought my house under the pretense that I can do what I want to it – inside and outside,” long-time resident Butch Mule told The Daily News. Unfortunately, though, some of these long-time residents have not exactly distinguished themselves as guardians of the neighborhood’s architectural legacy. “We don’t want buildings to get funky additions on top and inappropriate modifications to the facade,” said architect John Hathaway, who is among those who have lived in the neighborhood for decades that does feel the area’s buildings are worth protecting. “The neighborhood has become so popular because of what it [looks like].”
Issue of Landmarking Splits Carroll Gardens [NY Daily News]
“Butch Mule”
C’mon, that name is totally made up!
I agree that the landmarks commission is too obsessed with miniscule changes -windows and sidewalks to name two of the most annoying LPC fetishes. They lose sight of the big picture by micro-managing minutae and letting big things slip by. The organization needs to change in order to keep up with the ever-growing inventory of landmarks. The fact that the commission cannot seem to hang on to staffers -the median age of case reviewers is approx. twelve- makes for a staff that is perpetually on a learning curve. I don’t blame owners for being wary of landmarking. The commission can be a bit over-bearing, especially with home owners. A zoning overlay that would preserve exterior envelopes and open space may be a superior mechanism to preservation regulation and be more user-friendly than the clunky, 1980’s vintage approach to regulation that the LPC seems wedded to.
But seriously, why isn’t there a “Facade and Structural Landmarking Only” movement? I’d be all for that. But I do not want to get LPC approval to change my doorknob, light fixture or even putting in energy-efficient windows.
hannible, learn how to spell.
“Oldtimmers” hold out and be patient! It will not be long before those idiots that bout during the housing bubble will iether sell of forced into bankruptcy.
The oldtimers (and I speak as one of them) rarely realize that the value of their homes has risen because of preservation, not in spite of it. It only takes one homeowner “enhancing” their home to devalue the entire block. Landmarking is a formal version of the already existing tacit social contract we have as urbanites; you don’t put a monstrosity next to my house and I won’t put one next to yours. Still, why are they quoting John Hathaway in the article? He’s well known for out-of-context construction, but I guess he’s comfortable with it only as long as he doesn’t have to live near anything he’s built.
“Predictably, the battle appears to forming along class and generation lines, with the more working-class old-timers bristling at the loss of control over their own homes.”
Where is the evidence of this statement? One quote from each side of the issue, both by longer-term residents.
Here is a more apt statement:
“Predictably, Mr.B. casts a landmarking issue in terms of class and/or ethnicity, so as to pump up the number of comments and clicks.”
Carroll Gardens is a showplace for 1950s doors, awnings, interior dividers, cupboards, and Santas meeting the Christmas donkey. Why would you want to mess all that up? If they bring Landmarks in, the neighborhood might start to look tastefuakkoke Brooklyn Heights.
Butch is just nickname for Haangleicher.