What Was Eugene's LPC Vote Worth? $409,000
Remember the flap earlier this week about how Council Member Mathieu Eugene was opposing the creation of the Ocean on the Park Historic District because he wanted to hook up the owner of one of the twelve houses who was hoping to cash out to a developer? As we all know, Eugene cracked under a…
Remember the flap earlier this week about how Council Member Mathieu Eugene was opposing the creation of the Ocean on the Park Historic District because he wanted to hook up the owner of one of the twelve houses who was hoping to cash out to a developer? As we all know, Eugene cracked under a wave of public protest and decided to support the landmarking effort. And what about the poor owner whose backroom politicking ultimately failed? Well, with hopes of a tear-down dashed, he just slashed the asking price of his house at 189 Ocean Avenue by 26 percent from $1,599,000 to $1,190,000. Anyone care to cop to a little schadenfreude?
189 Ocean Avenue [Sotheby’s] GMAP
Ocean on the Park: Crisis Narrowly Averted [Brownstoner]
Councilman Threatens Ocean on the Park Historic District [Brownstoner]
Bob;
I think you haven’t read all my posts.
I’ll reprint my 6.52 PM post, as such:
“Note that I have not said one word about the merits of the landmarking case at hand, and the cause of the wealth destruction is arguable. I am not making statements about either point. I am not arguing against the landmark laws.
My point is only about Mr. B.’s behaviour in this matter, and I believe it is typical of the devolution in the thoughts and minds of the preservation community.
I ask you: what did this owner do wrong, either legally or morally, to deserve this treatment by Mr. B? Mr. B. certainly believes there was wealth destruction from this landmarking decision. He stated it, not I. Not only does he state it, he DELIGHTS in it, and invites others to share in his schadenfreude. As I just said to Montrose, this is nothing more than kicking someone when they are down.
When someone starts acting like this, you have to question where their head is really at.”
Benson,
What makes you think that landmarking leads to “wealth destruction”? There is ample evidence to the contrary. Landmarking of private residences in NYC has consistently lead to an INCREASE in their value. I know that the owners of 189 Ocean had dreams of selling their house for an enormous amount as a development site, but, in the real world, this was never a likely outcome.
BTW, I’m a property owner who worked very hard to see that my neighborhood became an Historic District with my house included in it’s boundaries. I’ve never had cause, financial, or otherwise, to regret doing so.
Benson,
Sorry I did not address your comments about Mr B’s post. I really don’t have a strong opinion either way on it. I guess I was picking up on your previous opposition to preservationists in some cases and your disdain for ‘Horror Show Friday’ etc. Your argument in those cases often seemed to be that architecture is simply a matter of individual taste. I also thought you were arguing that the owner had the right to do as he pleased in this case as it was his property. I apologize if I read too much into your post.
I certainly agree with that- finding the right balance is the hardest part. I’ll also say that I truly believe that preservation is more than just pleasant aesthetics though- maybe it is to me as an artist but I do see many financial, psychological, and community benefits to it.
Have a great weekend, benson. I look forward to engaging with you next week 🙂
Bxgrl;
I comment here at Mr. B’s pleasure, so to speak. If he wants to turn this site into an echo chamber and ban my commentary, it’s his choice. I believe it makes his site more vital if he is willing to allow some criticism.
I am not trying to demonize the guy, but what he did really rubs me the wrong way. I’ll tell you that in my business dealings I wouldn’t tolerate something like this. I went to visit a customer all day today for a very tough negotiation, and we were 180 degrees apart. However, the meeting was respectful, and at the end we looked each other in the eye and shook hands.
You and Montrose speak about community alot, and I’m with you. However, there are alot of factors that go into making a community. In my mind, dealing straight and responsibly with your neighbors, even when you disagree, is a helluva lot more important towrds building community than pleasant aesthetics.
benson- I will proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with you as the the big machinery rolls over us while we protest AY 🙂
benson- you claim to despise the preservation movement. And really- what red herring? You automatically assume landmarking would lower the property value, and despite the lowered price of 189 that has to do with the market, not landmarking. YOu stated that the homeowner’s wealth was destroyed. In todays market I doubt he could have sold it in any case, as aptly illustrated but the vacant lot next to him (please read bob marvin’s post, and brooklynista’s).
Sure, Jon may have come off a bit smug and flippant, but you’re going after him like he blew up the BQE. Your attacks are personal- his article wasn’t.
Bxgrl;
With regard to Robert Moses: there is no inconsistency in my position. I am the strongest believer there is in individual property rights that there is. However, I believe in the concept of eminent domain when the land being condemned is for a public purpose like a school, a road, etc. This is what Robert Moses did.
I am against eminent domain when it amounts to the government seizing land to hand over to powerful private interests, as is the case with AY.
Big difference.
benson- I think you are reading far too much into what Jon said. There is no reason to think he delights in anyone’s misfortune or that there has been any destruction of wealth in the first place. At most Jon was flippant but he’s hardly the archfiend you’re making him out to be. As MM pointed out, we’ll all here because Jon lets us be- you don’t have to agree with him, but neither do you have to demonize him while making use of his blog.
His comment was more to the fact that the owner dropped his price immediately and he was basically specualting whether or not it was because Eugene dropped his support.