Preservationists Celebrate Bed-Stuy, Gowanus
Via the Brooklyn Eagle comes word that Bedford-Stuyvesant and Gowanus are the two Brooklyn neighborhoods named in a Historic Districts Council program called “Six to Celebrate.” According to the Council, the initiative identifies six areas in the city “that merit preservation as priorities for HDC’s advocacy and consultation over a yearlong period.” HDC notes the…
Via the Brooklyn Eagle comes word that Bedford-Stuyvesant and Gowanus are the two Brooklyn neighborhoods named in a Historic Districts Council program called “Six to Celebrate.” According to the Council, the initiative identifies six areas in the city “that merit preservation as priorities for HDC’s advocacy and consultation over a yearlong period.” HDC notes the following re: Bed-Stuy: “Although there are currently two designated historic districts in the area, the vast majority of Bedford Stuyvesant’s architectural splendor is unprotected. The recently-formed Bedford Stuyvesant Society for Historic Preservation, a coalition of concerned neighborhood block associations, and the landmarks committee of Brooklyn Community Board 3 are working to correct that.” And the citation about Gowanus, a slice of which is pictured above, says: “In recent years, plans for the canal have conflicted with the existing character of the neighborhood and some significant industrial structures have been demolished for out-of-scale, out of character, speculative development. However, with the canal’s recent designation as a federal Superfund site, there is now an opportunity to successfully advocate for the preservation of the industrial character of the area and retention of significant structures associated with this history.” Agree that these are two neighborhoods in Brooklyn that warrant some of the most attention from preservationists?
6 to Celebrate [HDC]
Bedford-Stuyvesant, Gowanus on 2010 List [BK Eagle]
yeah but those conversions only allow for super millionaires to by and live in. so wow, the outside looks like it did in 1835 but the insides are like 2004 (lol?) and the people in them, often, suck.
*rob*
Landmarking would not preclude the conversion of warehouse buildings to residential use. Landmarking designation in this instance is about preserving the exterior or the building. LPC does not dictate use. I know of one landmarked building in DUMBO that was converted to residential use last year. I am sure there are others in DUMBO propably Tribeca.
i meant the “affordable” units as being smoke and mirrors..
also, look at some of the income guidelines. many of those people will be house poor for LIFE!
*rob*
ha! that is true TWC. converting all of those old warehouses into rich yuppie ghettos like it did in DUMBO is the answer, then yeah landmark that shit, stat. im sure they will all get tax breaks by claiming to builing affordable units but then, well, that never really happens, and all those unaffordable units, while on the table might sound nice, are nothing but smoke and mirrors in the developer’s, the mayor’s and the a bunch of yahoos from indiana’s coin purses.
im not sure if there is a win / win situation with nyc in it’s current state… you know the old saying, too many hands in the cookie jar.. except now it’s rich peoples’ hands.
*rob*
Bed Stuy has long stretches of good historic houses, designation there would be for the purpose of protecting old architecture. In Gowanus on the other hand, designation would be primarily to stop new development. The latter is a misuse of the Landmarks statute in my opinion.
Would landmarking Gowanus preclude the conversion of warehouses to residences ala Dumbo? If the answer is no then landmark away…
quote:
but I would also like the area to have the chance to develop organically.
FYI, that is exactly like park slope did. it didnt gentrify overnight as say certain neighborhoods did in this city and many other cities. while i know what developing “organically” means when it comes to gentrification, it’s still a pretty barfworthy word. and no, a whole foods and 405345 fauxdegas with the name Natural on their signage, in a shitty ass ghetto doensnt mean the neighborhood changed organically, it just means people shot their load too fast and don’t understand crap about human relations.
*rob*
don’t be so sure Blayze, Park Slope district is much smaller than one might think – although proposals to expand that also.
Carroll Gardens district is really tiny.
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I’m not saying I want to see Gowanus sanitized and turned into Park Slope – I like the different vibe here
what does that even mean? please you get the spillover park slope riff-raff. deep down the people are essentially all of the same breed whether you want to believe otherwise or not.
*rob*