Push To Landmark Beverly Square West Nabe
Some members of the Victorian Flatbush sub-neighborhood of Beverly Square West are pushing to get the area landmarked. In a recent email, one of the spearheaders of the project addressed why the topic is so urgent: Many BSW residents have in recent years undertaken renovation projects designed to preserve the original architectural characters of their…
Some members of the Victorian Flatbush sub-neighborhood of Beverly Square West are pushing to get the area landmarked. In a recent email, one of the spearheaders of the project addressed why the topic is so urgent:
Many BSW residents have in recent years undertaken renovation projects designed to preserve the original architectural characters of their homes. Thanks to their hard work, BSW stands a much better chance of receiving NYC Landmarks approval than it did just 25 years ago. It is important to note that the NYC Landmarks commission also gives particular consideration to neighborhoods that are currently under threat and in particular need of protection. Grossly insensitive exterior renovations are on the rise throughout Victorian Flatbush, putting BSW squarely in this category.
‘Grossly insensitive’ is a good way of putting it.
Attack of the Killer Brick [Brownstoner]
Trouble in Ditmas [Hall of Shame]
I think the idea of pple dictating how others should remodel the exterior of their houses is ridiculous!!!
There should only be standards for quality and safety when building. Personal taste should not be imposed on homeowners.
Ditmas Park West (pictured here) has an application in with NYC Landmarks, but Landmarks is dragging its feet. All of the contiguous neighborhoods of Victorian Flatbush should band together and get landmark status before brick and stucco ruins these historic neighborhoods forever.
This house is on Argyle between Dorchester Road and Ditmas Avenue. Yes, in Ditmas Park West. The DPW Homeowners Association is collecting petitions for zoning to prevent large apartment buildings this winter.
OMB – It sounds like some people read a bit too much in to the three little pigs.
I live in Old Mill Basin and the brickface fairy is dancing over there as well. I drive past the bricked over Ditmas Park property everyday and sigh.
I think part of the reason (in Mill Basin at least) is that people want porches and most of the artisans do brick porches, so in order to have the new brick porch not stand out, they brick the whole front to match the porch. Another reason is the onwers think brick equals value; frame equals poor. Many owners believe that if you brick over the front, it will attract buyers and people will be more inclined to buy at a higher price
When I bought a frame house in 04 everyone gave me a hard time. What if it burns down? It’s not as sturdy as brick. yadda yadda yadda blah blah blah.
Another trend I see in East Flatbush and now Old Mill Basin is stucco – they are ripping off siding an re-doing houses in stucco. The few finished products look nice enough but, of course, do not blend with everything else.
Does anyone know how long the process takes and what’s involved?
I tried asking this on the previous thread: does anyone know why people brickface their houses like this? I’m guessing there’s a money reason, but it’s got to be expensive to do, no?
Two othe Victorian Flatbush neighborhoods – Fiske Terrace and Midwood Park – are in the process of landmarking for the same reason. The good thing is that those 2 neighborhoods are still in tact – and landmarking will keep it that way.
12:19- Keep in mind that behind that wall of brick, there actually is a beautifully ornate Victorian frame house. I think if you went and saw the building, you’d realize that it actually doesn’t look nice at all- especially given issues of context and scale, etc…
12:04 is correct. All of the neighborhoods of Vic. Flatbush should be landmarked.