Sounding the Alarm on Architectural Gems
Hats off to the New York Landmarks Conservancy for launching a website that tracks its list of endangered buildings. Click through to the Brooklyn section, for example, and see pictures of 245 Greene Avenue (which gets a Red rating) along with several others from the Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, the most highly represented areas….
Hats off to the New York Landmarks Conservancy for launching a website that tracks its list of endangered buildings. Click through to the Brooklyn section, for example, and see pictures of 245 Greene Avenue (which gets a Red rating) along with several others from the Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, the most highly represented areas. The page for each endangered property provides a form for users to submit information about the building.
Endangered Buildings [NYLC]
I live a block from 418-422 Classon and every time I walk by there I wonder when someone will buy and renovate it. Unfortunately I’m pretty sure that anyone who purchases those buildings will choose to raze the structure and build new as that might be cheaper than trying to bring that dilapidated building up to code.
That’s really true. There’s a row of nice old brick houses across from Underhill Park on Lafayette, most of which are very nicely maintained. But one of them isn’t, and a couple weeks ago in the middle of the day, two large pieces of the cornice just fell right out and smashed down into the little front yard of the house! It’s lucky no one was hurt.
It’s heartbreaking to see the endangered buildings on that site. I see plenty of building like that here in Crown Heights where some incredible rowhouses have been boarded up for years. Interesting point, CHP about failure to maintain. But it makes sense because a poorply maintained building will affect the others around it and create dangerous situations for everyone.
I passed your house this morning, Shahn, and you’ve been busy! No one could put your place on a danger list now, you’re obviously bringing the old girl back to life. Continued success to you.
I wonder if any of our houses were on this site before we bought them and/or fixed them up.
A very interesting site! Makes me wonder, however about the rights of a property owner. Some may argue that one should have the right to do whatever they choose with their property, including let it fall to the ground. I didn’t know that the city could cite you for failure to maintain, which is a good thing. How often does that really occur, and what are the penalties imposed? Are there programs for people who just can’t afford to maintain their buildings, but would if they could just get some help?
It really is a shame that people won’t let go of properties that could be restored and enjoyed by some one or an organization. I guess the land the buildings sit on is so much more valuable than the historic structure on it. A very shortsighted cultural view.