Will 'URR Home' Be Part of Abolitionism Project?
According to sources, the city is close to choosing a team to commemorate the Abolitionist movement in Downtown Brooklyn, a project announced last November shortly before the city changed course on its decision to seize a Duffield Street home many believed was involved in the Underground Railroad. While the preservationists who fought to save that…
According to sources, the city is close to choosing a team to commemorate the Abolitionist movement in Downtown Brooklyn, a project announced last November shortly before the city changed course on its decision to seize a Duffield Street home many believed was involved in the Underground Railroad. While the preservationists who fought to save that home had hoped it would be turned into a museum and included in the $2 million project, its part-owner, Joy Chatel, had been at the same time fighting to stave off foreclosure. In February, the Post reported she owed more than $300,000 to Bayview Loan Servicing. We checked city records and found that just last Friday the debt was transferred to an LLC registered under a prominent family in Crown Heights. Other sources said Chatel could look to generate capital by selling her air rights gained after the 2004 Downtown Brooklyn rezoning that, ironically, paved the way for eminent domain in the first place. The city had hoped to raze the entire half block across the street from the aloft/ Sheraton hotels so a one-acre public plaza and underground parking garage could be built. Eventually, a judge convinced the city to build around the hot-button home where two prominent abolitionists lived during the 1800s.
Councilwoman Letitia James said two of the frontrunner teams in the commemoration project include The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA) and the Weeksville Society with the Brooklyn Historical Society, both of which said they would consider using Chatel’s home in their project. We were able to get into contact with Weeksville executive director Pamela Green. While she couldn’t reveal too many details about their entry, she explained that the city’s money couldn’t be used to help pay off Chatel’s home. Chatel wasn’t aware she was mentioned in either proposal, but was flattered, and declined to give information on the financial status of her home that she’s fought for nearly four years to save. But with all the interest the modest four-story building generated—historians from across the country became involved — $300,000 seems like a small amont to raise for such a unique museum opportunity.
Historic Home in Peril [NY Post]
City Won’t Seize Alleged URR Home [Brooklyn Eagle]
City to Commemorate Abolitionist Movement [Brooklyn Eagle]
Illustration from queenoftheclick.
I think they are referring to people funding the museum and helping Joyce pay off the lien. If the City bought it, it would be their responsibility to set up the museum and maintain it- that isn’t going to happen.
“$300,000 seems like a small price to pay for such a unique museum opportunity. ” –
What are you saying here? – that city can buy the prop for $300k- cause thats what it sound like you are claiming.
And mining dwarves searching for gold to manufacture rings.
“underground park” eh? with mushrooms and other fungi?
Great news! Saving a piece of history and making it a museum is the best idea. History and education certainly trump a public plaza where people can sit endlessly hooked up to their ipods and eat fast food lunches.
This house is part of a crucially important piece of our history- nice to see the City finally seeing how stupid and shortsighted it’s plan to raze it was. (Or I should say was embarrassed into realizing).
Just wish the whole row had been saved- too bad the Sheraton didn’t buy them up and turn them into mini b & b’s they could charge prime rates for people to stay in and enjoy the Brooklyn brownstone experience. Somehow I don’t think a public plaza with an underground parking garage is better than this.