Victorians Accuse LPC of Brownstone Bias
Since the Landmarks Preservation Commission announced in its January newsletter that it was postponing plans to create historic districts in Beverly Square West and Ditmas Park West, preservationists in Victorian Flatbush have been accusing the group of unfairly favoring Brooklyn’s brownstone neighborhoods. (The LPC is moving full-speed-ahead to expand protection in Park Slope and Fort…
Since the Landmarks Preservation Commission announced in its January newsletter that it was postponing plans to create historic districts in Beverly Square West and Ditmas Park West, preservationists in Victorian Flatbush have been accusing the group of unfairly favoring Brooklyn’s brownstone neighborhoods. (The LPC is moving full-speed-ahead to expand protection in Park Slope and Fort Greene.) “The [LPC] has limited resources, but it shouldn’t be to the exclusion of the Victorian neighborhoods,” said Ditmas Park West Neighborhood Association president Joel Siegel. “If it’s worthy, they should fund it and do it.” Even Marty has weighed in on the issue, saying, “”It is not appropriate public policy to place [Victorian Flatbush] on hold while purely Brownstone Brooklyn is pursued.” According to The Daily News, the LPC defends the prioritization by pointing out that it landmarked two small areas of Flatbush in 2008 and that the current areas seeking protection have a large number of structures that have already been altered.
Victorian Flatbush Bashes Brownstone Bias in LPC [NY Daily News]
Photo by Flatbush Gardener
Most of the homes built in San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake are considered “Victorian”; this was five years after Queen Victoria’s death.
In colloquial usage it’s pretty safe to say anything from the late 19th Century up until just before the beginning of the “modern” post WWI era (late 1910’s, early 1920’s) to be Victorian here in the US of A.
In the United States, people use the term “Victorian” to refer to houses of the late Victorian period, circa 1880s to 1901. No one ever calls an 1850s Italianate brownstone a “Victorian,” even though technically they are. It’s different in England.
Oh, and by the way, some thoughts… maybe the LPC has pushed this request to the back burner because they don’t see it as having any merit… but they don’t feel like dealing with a bunch of whining when they turn it down.
This area “Beverley Square West” just completed a very aggressive rezoning…
“Knocked down and ugly Scarano buildings will take over” is really not that big of a danger, people. The zoning requires detached housing, limited units, limited FAR, etc etc etc.
Replacement building may not be wood-frame victorians, but they are going to be (by zoning) the right scale. AND if you’ve actually been to the neighborhood… there are A LOT of properties that are definite tear-downs to any financially prudent person.
Then again, I don’t think there are many of those types on this blog.
Let’s also keep in mind… There’s ALREADY the landmark district north of Beverley Road called “Prospect Park South.” Lots of great stuff there. All protected with your magical landmarking.
The larger-sized lots (and accompanying FAR) of Victorian Flatbush frame houses puts them at greater risk than brownstones for teardown. Many Ditmas homes are on 5000sf lots. Two large frame houses on my PLG block were demolished for a scarano-esque condo. Something to consider when prioritizing.
Park Slope had to sue LPC in order to light a fire underneath them, and the Fort Greene request has also been kickin’ around for a while. I doubt either neighborhood feels like it has been favored.
It’s a shame, a few years back there was legislation pending in the city council that would have allowed it to direct the LPC to hold a designation hearing upon the passage of a city council resolution. Anyone know what happened to the legislation?
Sadly, LPC’s budget and staff will be cut in the next fiscal year (I hear) so expect more postponements and waiting lists…
Denton, they’ve had a hiring freeze, like most of the city, for the last few years. Don’t think I haven’t tried. I check their website often, but they are only accepting unpaid interns these days.