Slope HD Extension: In 3 Parts, Over 10+ Years?
The Post had an article yesterday with details about the push to extend the Park Slope Historic District so that it includes 4,000 more buildings. Right now, the Park Slope Civic Council is proposing an extension that would happen in three phases: “the first 1,350 buildings [are] bordered by Flatbush, Prospect Park West, Seventh Avenue,…
The Post had an article yesterday with details about the push to extend the Park Slope Historic District so that it includes 4,000 more buildings. Right now, the Park Slope Civic Council is proposing an extension that would happen in three phases: “the first 1,350 buildings [are] bordered by Flatbush, Prospect Park West, Seventh Avenue, 15th Street, and parts of Union Street and Fifth Avenue. The second phase includes 2,000 buildings east of Fifth Avenue, and the third, east of Fourth Avenue between Flatbush and 15th Street.” A trustee of the civic council estimates that it will take 3 years to get landmark status for the first section and that there would be 5 year gaps between the landmarking of the other two portions. The Slope’s Historic District currently includes 1,975 buildings. Update: Blog Save the Slope takes issue with some parts of The Post article.
City Aims to Expand Slope District [NY Post]
Photo from Save the Slope.
Jeez Benson, take a chill pill. No one is advocating saving every stick and brick. Dave was talking about brownstone blocks, and most people who are familiar with the area, and I am not, especially around the fringes, would probably admit that some of it is not worthy of landmarking. As I said before, LANDMARKS draws the boundaries, not Save Park Slope, not the people on 3rd St. They have their own criteria, which includes architectural importance, historic merit, famous residents, important architects, materials, style, and condition, just several points in a longer checklist.
The point of the article is that there are MANY, MANY worthy parts of Park Slope that are not landmarked, and should be, not that certain parts of certain blocks may or may not be worthy.
The block I live on is partially landmarked- the line runs like zigzag, omitting those buildings that LPC didn’t find landmark worthy. But they idea of landmarking is not only to preserve individual houses but the character of the neighborhood. Historic and Brownstone neighborhoods are Brooklyn’s stock in trade- the borough is famous for them. And many homes within districts are not original but many of the facade “improvements” can be removed and the building returned to its original.
Further to the point: I invite anyone to take a walk down 3rd Street between 4th and 5th Ave, or 6th Ave between 2nd and 3rd Street, or 2nd Street between 5th and 6th Ave, and tell me what is so “historic” about the rows of 4 story walk-ups that you will see there.
They are nothing but glorified tenements, with some ornamentation that the zealots find appealing. As housing, it is obsolete, unless (as preservationists would have you believe) folks are going to pay a “premium” to live in a 10 feet wide apartment with railroad layouts, one toilet and – best of all- a three story climb.
DIBS;
Why don’t you come and take a look at the district that is being proposed for designation??? Much of the housing in the proposed area consists of 4-story walk-ups, NOT brownstones. The apartments in these buildings are often 10 feet wide. Who is going to pay a premium to live in such an apartment?? For Pete’s sake, this is the type of housing my grandparents had the good sense to flee as soon as they could afford something better.
rob, usually the LPC will be a little flexible if the homeowner can come up with something that “fits” the home’s eera and style. They’re not out to break anyone financially, and it is true that landmark neighborhoods do keep their value better, so if you are an “oldtimer” your house will most likely have a better resale value- that won’t always be the case, of course, but in general.
Boerumresident;
Well said (as someone who lives between 4th and 5th Ave).
No one will tear something down and put up a fedders building or something that benson or Polemicist would prefer.
People WILL pay more on a block full of nice brownstones that are nice to look at over a block with some fugly additions to it.
quote:
And no one is making anyone hunt for 200 year old accoutrements.
hmmm, i specifically remember an irate poster a while back of posted in the forum about about annoyed to have to hunt down some crazy old ancient kind of door that isnt made anymore.!? does anyone remember that?
are
*rob*
Slopefarm, you are right, there are some parts that don’t necessarily merit landmarking, but the LPC usually draws their own boundaries, according to their standards, and sometimes allowing for those who want to opt out. (If you are in the middle of a truly worthy block, that will not happen) In CHN, they drew some pretty arbitrary boundaries, leaving out some buildings that should have been included. That is not just my opinion, either, but is backed up by some independent studies. They also correctly left out areas that were not worthy, so it, like most things, can work both for and against you. The LPC, and landmarking in general, is not perfect.
And no one is making anyone hunt for 200 year old accoutrements.