Strange Bedfellows In Southside Landmark Fight
The battle over the future of two old buildings in South Williamsburg is creating some strange alliances — all of which were on display on Monday at a curbside press conference in front of 118 and 120 South 8th Street (photo on the jump). Members of the Orthodox Jewish and Hispanic communities joined artists, activitists…
The battle over the future of two old buildings in South Williamsburg is creating some strange alliances — all of which were on display on Monday at a curbside press conference in front of 118 and 120 South 8th Street (photo on the jump). Members of the Orthodox Jewish and Hispanic communities joined artists, activitists and councilmen to express their opposition to developer Michael Zazza tearing down two of the area’s oldest buildings to construct a 20-story residential tower (which at this point he can do as-of-right). Hannah Bloch, who’s been spearheading the movement for the past several months, seems to genuinely care about preserving the buildings — and to have grave reservations about the mid-block location of the tower from an urban planning perspective. As for the other other two groups, from where we sit, their sudden interest in preservation reeks of opportunism and is particularly ironic given their complete lack of concern about the borough’s architectural heritage (and future) up to this point.
But what about the merit of the landmarking request? The buildings were striking enough that we thought to take this photo of them during a stroll back in the Spring of ’05. Among the organizations who spend their days thinking about preservation issues, there’s a lack of consensus about whether the buildings should be preserved based on their architectural merit (despite agreement about their meaningfulness in the borough’s history). While the Four Borough Preservation Alliance has backed the landmarking effort, neither the Municipal Arts Society, Historic District Council or the more local Waterfront Preservation Alliance has deemed this to be a battle worth fighting. David Yassky, previously reported to be in favor of landmarking these buildings, now is reserving judgement until LPC makes an official comment. If the question is, Are these buildings worth preserving, we’d say “absolutely”. But it sounds to us like the behind-the-scenes issue is whether, given the preservation movement’s lack of resources, these two buildings are worth spending valuable time and political capital on. That’s a trickier question, and one we are ill-equipped to answer.
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Indeed the city is need of housing, no one questions that assertion. However it is certain that this building will be replaced with a 10-20 story unimaginative glass structure that will only house the well to do. On the other hand, if this building were to be replaced with a unique, well built structure, housing low to middle income tenents than maybe there wouldn’t be such debate. THE LAST THING THIS CITY NEEDS IS MORE HOUSING FOR THE RICH! NEW YORK IS TURNING INTO THE YUPPY CAPITAL OF THE WORD AND IN TURN ONE VERY UGLY AND BORING CITY. WE MUST STOP RICH PEOPLE FROM RUINING THIS CITY. THE POOR AND WORKING CLASS MUST UNITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The height of the proposed towers, density, etc., is irrelevant to the decision to landmark. Period. It’s not what Landmarks is for, or shouldn’t be, if Landmarks wants to have any legitimacy.
By the way, Pachgong, I love Brooklyn *and* LA architecture.
The Lincoln bust was taken down months ago (maybe even last year). It would be interesting to know WHY there was a Lincoln bust there. perhaps that would tell us something about the significance of the building. The whole door surround looks relatively modern – it could be 19th century, but doesn’t look it to me. It obviously replaced an older raised stoop entrance (one of many alterations to this building).
Fair point about the “artists”, Jennyanne. Plenty of the “artists” have their own agendas (keeping cheap rents in lofts, for example) but there are many from this broad group, as long as we’re generalizing, that are vocally involved in trying to preserve buildings in this neighborhood for the sake of preservation. We would love to hear of a counter-example of a preservationist movement within the Hasidic community, but we never have. That would be a GREAT way to build bridges across religious and cultural groups. If anyone is aware of such a group, please let us know.
No- it’s not bigotry, but why bother to make mention of Hasids and Hispanics as being opportunistic, and not, for instance, the artists? There’s been much discussion of them as well. Surely they are just as self-interested. The whole thing just seems out of context because the result, saving the buildings, was the purpose of the report, and now the side issue is the discussion instead. The more important issue is the fact that a new hi-rise will, of course, be another expensive luxury tower. But the issue can bring these groups to work together, maybe some good will come out of it.
The above comment was from me. I thought I was signed in.
I am realistic enough to know you can’t save everything, and that NYC can’t be a preserved-in-amber kind of place like some small town gaslight district. On the other hand, if preservation and landmarking had not been initiated in this city, we would not recognize it today, and much of our architectural and historic heritage would be gone, replaced by glass and steel towers, and blocks and blocks of anonymously bland housing and office structures. So I say that it is good that these battles come up.
Are they worthy of saving, I really don’t know. I like old buildings, I’m inclined to think so. But, we need lots of housing in this city, and these buildings, even if converted into apartments, would not provide very much relief to a housing shortage. What would they be replaced with? I think that’s a legitimate concern for people in the neighborhood. If support for this cause brings together such disparate groups as the Hasidic, Hispanic and artistic communities, then for that reason alone, it’s a fight worth having.
Just as all of the people in any grouping of people are not responsible for the actions of some of their members, then neither are all Hasidics responsible for the building practices in their communities. We all need to get to know the people around us, it enriches us all. If rallying around the protection of these buildings does that for even a small group of Wmsburgers, then the fight, whether successful or not, has been won. We are all opportunistic and self serving, let’s face it – it’s human nature. This is one of those times that it’s a good thing and should be encouraged.
We are equal-opportunity critics, as regular readers know, so this isn’t some rare instance of us unfairly picking on someone or some group. Just because one of the groups in this case happens to be a religious one is no reason to bite our tongue about what we perceive to be a hypocritical position–especially on a topic that we care passionately about. Has everyone in the Orthodox Jewish community in South Williamsburg actively exhibited disregard for the area’s architectural past and future? Of course not. But the community as a whole has sat by silently while some of its more powerful members have been actively anti-preservation. That’s their perogative–as it is ours to call them on it. It’s called free speech, not bigotry.
Let me first apologize for the unreadable drviel above, here it is in edited form. ‘m a single finger typer.
I’m always suprised about the negative comments on this board about preserving buildings with character. I find it difficult to beleive that these are non-partisan, I’m sure most have a financial interest, whether as an employee or investor, in razing and replacing. We like our low-rise neighborhood. We like the history. The generic hotel-chain-like featureless replacments just homogenize the place into nothing. Can’t you understand the premium buyers pay for preserved districts – they do that becuase of the value they confer. You’re a bunch of businessmen, and thats no compliment. You have no interest in the neighborhood, its just a business to you. Bleurghhhh. Imagine if the docks and dock buildings had been preserved and/or restored down the waterfront on the East river – how much their value would be now. Instead you’ve got a bunch of cr$# Let me guess, your grandfather made a tidy profit knocking down Penn Station and replacing it with that concrete air-filter. Why don’t you all move to LA, thats the architecture you deserve. Bleurghhhhh