Movement to Preserve Lefferts Place Gem
When 70 Lefferts Place finally sold last summer to a developer, there was a sense of sadness in the community and, especially, on the block that’s been home to the 1860’s Italianate villa-style home for a century and a half. The developer, Christopher Morris, is planning a 7-story, 25-unit condo development for the site. Although…
When 70 Lefferts Place finally sold last summer to a developer, there was a sense of sadness in the community and, especially, on the block that’s been home to the 1860’s Italianate villa-style home for a century and a half. The developer, Christopher Morris, is planning a 7-story, 25-unit condo development for the site. Although neither the block nor the house is landmarked, the block association is making a push to prevent the demolition by spear-heading a last-minute letter-writing drive to LPC. Instructions and addresses for those wishing to participate are on the organization’s website on the link below. Time is of the essence. We’re going to write our letters tonight.
Help Save 70 Lefferts [LeffertsPlace.org] GMAP P*Shark
Civil War Era Gem Facing Wrecking Ball [Brownstoner]
more so, I agree with a previous poster who said landmarks is not to preserve every old building in NYC. where are they supposed to build condos anyway?
the attitudes of some of you are so exclusive. while its duly noted that people don’t want crap construction going up on their block for the most part all new construction is frowned upon in neighborhoods like this. I agree that the building on classon and fulton isn’t a looker but it also serves to diversify the neighborhood. poor people want to own something too damn them to hell that they can’t afford a beautiful brownstone in this neighborhood. when people say things like “the building will change the dynamic of/ ruin the neighborhood” or something similar they’re essentially saying they don’t want people who can’t afford to pay the ridiculous price tags for brownstones in these neighborhoods to stay there. I believe a little change is quite alright and after a while the entire city of new york will be landmarked. its becoming ridiculous, for the most part I don’t even believe people care about the architecture of the buildings they’re more concerned about how much it will impress others that their house is landmarked because that inevitibly makes it even more overpriced. get over yourselves. why don’t we just throw everyone who can’t afford to buy a brownstone to the farthest most corner of the earth? this person bought this house fair and square what right does anyone have to come and swoop down with their cape and stop him from doing what he wants to do with a piece of land that he legally owns?
Thanks SuzyQ – that’s helpful and very informative.
As far as the size goes, the proposed new zoning changes to R6-B would help this block in terms of height limits. In any even, seven stories not too bad considering that there are five story brownstones and a few taller apartment buildings on that block of Lefferts Place. If it is developed, my major concern would be that a quality job is done that is attractive way, not some cheap fedders type job. Even if it was modern in design, but well done, it would be ok with me. Best case scenario, the blocks are landmarked and the development of the lots is in accordance with landmark standards so it is all contextual.
The huge empty lot at 86 Lefferts Place has its own problems. The property is presently being litigated in the courts on a breach of contract claim (CNR Health Care Network v. 86 Lefferts Corp.). The owner of the property granted CNR an “option” to lease the land in the early 1990s for a period of 40 somewhat years. The option to lease or purchase (another contested issue) the land expired after a few years unless it was expressly extended by an amendment to the contract. CNR intended to build and operate an enormous and clearly out of context nursing complex for the elderly on the property site (seven stories/80 units). CNR extended the “option period” a few times in the mid and late 1990s. In 2002, CNR attempted to purchase the property for the meager sum of $2 million. By this time the real estate boom in Clinton Hill was in full swing. Needless to say, the owners of 86 Lefferts Place refused to sell CNR the lot on the grounds that the option period had elapsed. The parties are now in court.
The property at 86 Lefferts with a FAR of approximately 50,000sf is clearly worth $7-$10m. The owner of the property, who happens to also own the huge White Castle lot in the rear (WC’s lease expires in two years), plans to sell the property for big bucks to a major developer (perhaps it’s Ratner who plans to develop Atlantic Avenue well past Vanderbilt). Whether CNR gets the property or the owner keeps it and sells it to big developer it doesn’t bode well for Lefferts residents in either case since any proposed project on the site will tower over and suffocate the surrounding historic homes. The LPC seriously needs to landmark and protect this section of Clinton Hill. The area is often forgotten because it sits on the other side of Fulton Street but it is just as lovely as any other prime brownstone community.
Area residents are closely monitoring the CNR/86 Lefferts case because the development of this property which sits on a 165 x 119 ft plot of land will arguably have an even bigger impact on the area then the proposed development of #70 Lefferts Place, albeit no historic home will be torn down. Whether it’s the yellow house or the empty lot, a nursing home or luxury condos, area residents are simply looking for in-scale development that comports to the common scheme and development of the surrounding residential community. Neighborhood advocates are all for building additional housing, expanding the tax base and bringing in “new money” into the community but not at the expense of long-term residents and the neighborhood’s rich architectural history.
For those interested, the case index number in the CNR/86 Lefferts case is 30856/2002. Trial dates and case decisions can be found here:
http://tinyurl.com/s6j4v
It was built before the rowhouses. The oldest house on this block of Lefferts Place is on the other side of the lot, #96 if I remember the number correctly, the frame house with the semi-circular front porch.
when my husband and I saw this house several years ago, the broker told us it was the “farmhouse” in pre-civil war Brooklyn. It was built before the brownstones surrounding it were built. It was literally built on a farm. While the exterior was really ugly, the inside had beautiful original murals on the walls and ceilings, one of the bathrooms had the original gas light fixtures and original tiles, tub, chrome shower enclosure, etc. The winding staircase was original, there was a cupola with what must have been great views. In short, the interior details were gorgeous. While we could have afforded to buy it back then, the cost to restore it, especially, the exterior was beyond our budget. It definitely should be preserved. I loved this house and thought about it often these past few years.
and for the record, it is a quiet street. the reference to White Castle is to a White Castle on Atlantic Avenue behind the empty lot adjacent to this property.
It is too bad the condos are not being built on the empty lot, that would make sense.
“White Castle Poster” is clearly out of his or her mind. First, the area is not desolate. It’s a beautiful brownstone, tree lined neighborhood. Lefferts Place is only three blocks long (gives it a very private feel) with two of those streets being in Clinton Hill and the other in Bed-Stuy.
The yellow house is on Lefferts Place between Grand and Classon Avenue (much closer to Grand). White Castle and Atlantic Avenue is around the corner and has absolutely no adverse impact on this brownstone block. Your point is immaterially as to whether this house should be destroyed.
The Classon side of Lefferts has large Second Empire Style five story brownstones with intact mansard roofs. The Grand side of Lefferts (across the street from the yellow house) is comprised of huge 22 foot wide, four story Italianate Style brownstones on extra deep lots (140ft). To the left of the yellow house are two beautifully maintained Renaissance Revival limestones. To the right of the yellow house are two grand Queen Anne Style brownstones with projected bay windows and L-shaped stoops. All the townhouses on this block have set-back stoops with large front gardens.
The point is the community takes great pride in the neighborhood’s rich architecture and have worked extremely hard to improve the quality of life of neighborhood residents, e.g., closing of Lefferts Hotel, renovation of Cripus Attucks Park, etc. The homes on Lefferts Place are beautiful. 15 Lefferts Place and 63 Lefferts Place both closed this summer for over $1.49 million. 63 Lefferts Place is directly across from the yellow house. I’m sure the buyer had no idea that the beautiful yellow house across the street would be torn down and replaced by a 7 story condo building. Further, given the horrific caliber of recent condo projects in the area (e.g., Fulton and Classon), I do not blame residents for being extremely concerned about the impact that this development will have on their community.
There are three lots on Lefferts Place slated for development: 70 Lefferts (65×120 ft), 86 Lefferts (165×119 ft) and 96 Lefferts (58×123 ft). That’s almost 300 feet of frontal space that will be developed. These developments will forever change the character and feel of this brownstone neighborhood. These will not be Richard Meier caliber projects but rather the cheap pink brick whack construction job of most novice developers. Though condos, the quality and form of construction will undoubtedly ruin this section of Clinton Hill. The LPC has to stand up and do something. The entire stretch of Lefferts Place needs to be landmarked and preserved. The area is already designated the “Clinton Hill South Historic District” and is included in the National Register of Historic Places. However, the area needs LPC protection in the form of the currently proposed expansion of the Clinton Hill Historic District or a designation of its own. Any way you slice it, the yellow house and the other historic homes on Lefferts Place need to be saved from unscrupulous developers.
The house dates from 1853 I believe. While I signed the petition for landmarking it, I doubt it will have an effect (and am somewhat ambivalent on whether it should after the fact, unless just compensation is provided to the new owner).
I think Lefferts Place and the entire Clinton Hill South Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, should be the focus of the landmarking drive so as to prevent future issues like this.