Main Stream Media Get On Lefferts Bandwagon
The Fort Greene Courier and New York Times picked up the story of the eleventh-hour fight to landmark the yellow Victorian house on Lefferts Place before its developer receives demolition permits. While it wouldn’t have been any skin off either of their asses to give a little credit to the publication that broke this story…
The Fort Greene Courier and New York Times picked up the story of the eleventh-hour fight to landmark the yellow Victorian house on Lefferts Place before its developer receives demolition permits. While it wouldn’t have been any skin off either of their asses to give a little credit to the publication that broke this story (ahem!), we’re glad they both helped to get the word out. The developer, Christopher Morris, who lives in Ditmas Park argues that he’s trying to do society a favor by putting up 22 condo units in the house’s place: People have to understand that there’s a grand need for new development. Lefferts Place resident, David Conrad, who’s been leading the preservation effort, begs to differ: “I haven’t spoken to anyone who sees a positive for the neighborhood in this. Neither have we.
When the house came on the market last Spring, we went to take a look at it in the hopes of finding a backer to save it. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. So now, as the house’s fate hangs in the balance, we offer up some photos of the interior.
Movement to Preserve Lefferts Place Gem [Brownstoner]
One Home Equals 22 Condos [FG Courier]
Storm Clouds Gather Over an Italianate Charmer [NY Times]
Rear eave.
View from the widow’s walk
Bannister close-up.
Back stairs.
This is insane. Why would Mr. Morris pay so much for a historic home just to knock it down? Did he think that this would not be controversial? Surely there were less sensitive investment opportunities at the time. Why this property? Something is wrong here. 86 Lefferts goes into litigation and suddenly adjacent properties at 70 and 96 Lefferts are purchased by developers. Hhhhmmmm?
Anon. 5:12: Is it fair to buy an architecturally and culturally significant property with the intention of destroying it, without alerting the community to your intentions or finding out how they feel about it? Maybe not (maybe not so smart either), but the system allows it. However, the system also allows for the property to receive landmark protection after the sale. What’s fair all depends on your point of view. In this case both sides have some rights, and it’s up to city officials to make the call. Seems pretty balanced to me.
Here’s his math. Developer buys 16,000 buildable sf for $2.4M or $150 a buildable sf. He plans to sell units for $500 sf. Acquistion plus build cost puts total cost so far at $350 sf. The profit potential is $150 sf for the developer. Works out to $2.4M… Whats so unreasonable about that??
It’s not fair to the developer to change the house’s historic registration status AFTER he bought the house. Anyone who says otherwise is a seriously disgruntled individual.
Why $5M? He only paid $2.4M for it and hasn’t done any work to the property. Plus the market is cooling off. He should take $2.4M and call it a day.
I wish, but the residents of Lefferts Place and the surrounding blocks in Clinton Hill are not as rich as Eryximachus makes us out to be…
is there any way to raise 5mill. in a short time and call his bluff? that would be cool…could turn it into a cultural center or ake it into condos…what about it? enough people want it preserved…if you had 100 people who could put in 50k each, you’d have it…then you’d need to work out who develops it for how much…
that was me at 4.33
Actually, Eryximachus, you are the one who is incorrect. This house, and most of the houses on Lefferts Place, Brevoort Place, St. James Place between Atlantic and Fulton and Washinton between Atlantic and Fulton are “contributing buildings” to the “Clinton Hill South Historic District” on the National Register of Historic Places. I have the paperwork with the details regarding each house, when it was built, by whom etc., as do many on the block. It is unfortunate that is was left out of the NYC Landmarked Clinton Hill district one block North. The link to the National Register of Historic places listing is below.
http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/NY/Kings/districts.html
Again, if this is a crusade for you to ensure there is affordable housing, you are fighting the wrong battle. $550K condo units are not going to make this block any more affordable, and you could find yourself an apartment for that in the neighborhood now, or for less depending on what you want.