231 Duffield RIP

The demolition of 231 Duffield Street by V3 Hotels began early March of 2009, and ever since then, there have been considerable attention paid to the property, as well as controversy. Websites such as Curbed called the demolition a “dirty deed”, while Raul Rothblatt commented to the Brooklyn Paper that it was a “the murder of history”. A memorial service of sorts was held next door at 227 Duffield Street on March 9th, praising the abolitionists who supposedly lived at the address. Amidst the opinions and protests, one voice is noticeably missing: that of myself, John Donegan, the owner of the property.

I take umbrage those certain individuals who do not know all the facts are vilifying V3 Hotels, Mr. Ben Nash and Mr. Greg Atkins. Also, when presented with the facts, disregard them if they do not fit their opinions or agendas. They are acting like it is their building that is being torn down.”

One of those individuals includes Raul Rothblatt, who runs the web blog Duffield St. Underground. Mr. Rothblatt’s blog had detailed the dismantling of 231 Duffield Street. The March 9th blog highlighted the memorial, as well as posted photos of alleged hiding places for escaped slaves located at 231 Duffield Street. I wrote a comment on the blog to clarify things.

My comment was not approved and did not appear, thus prompting myself to respond with a second comment:

“I see that you did not approve my comment on your blog considering my property of 231 Duffield Street. It seems that there are blogs such as this one, as well as other articles written about this property and many people are speaking for me. Please let me stress that the developer, V3 Hotel, is not “hoping” to build a hotel there. It is happening and a “go” project, as I am a partner with V3. If you continue to not post my comments, which speak the truth, then I will take other avenues to make my voice heard and thus speak for myself.”

This comment was approved and Mr. Rothblatt replied with following:

“This blog will post or reject comments according to our editorial discretion. We heartily invite you to start your own blog where your own voice can be heard! We are strident supporters of freedom of speech- including our own- and we reserve the right to reject comments without explanation.
Please keep the blogosphere posted about the progress of construction at V3’s other site at 237 Duffield Street.”

Mr. Rothblatt totally contradicted himself. It seems that he supports freedom of speech only as long as it is what he wants to hear and fits his agenda. Then what is the point of letting people comment on your blog?
Furthermore, he is writing about my property, so I have a right to be heard. He is taking it upon himseldf to speak for me in regards to the building and I certainly did not ask him to advocate for me.

The supposed connection that Duffield Street has to Abolitionists and the Underground Railroad was never brought up until the City placed the buildings on the street into Eminent Domain. It was only after that, did people started bringing up this history in order to save their homes.
The city did not take the Duffield Street buildings out of Eminent Domain because of historic value, but to avoid a lawsuit. As I understand it, they didn’t want to give 227 Duffield Street any money or go into litigation with them.

As for 231 Duffield Street, I want to re-iterate that there are no secret tunnels or rooms for escaped slaves to hide in. The photographs shown on the Duffield Street Underground blog merely showed typical structural and architectural elements of the buildings of the time. There is a crawlspace right between the first floor and the basement but it is so small that only a cat can go hide in there. There has been claims about a tunnel connecting all the buildings on Duffield Street. There are no tunnels connecting my property to anywhere. There are no tunnels, period.

In 2007, AKRF conducted a report on the Duffield Street houses, a report which has come under fire and criticism by pro-Abolitionists because of the houses it researched on: 223, 225, 227, 231, 233 and 235 Duffield Street, only 227 seem to have some evidence of Abolitionism, but with no direct involvement with the Underground Railroad. When I was attending Marymount Manhattan College, I did a research paper on slavery which was nominated for an award. During my research I have come to the conclusion that the Abolitionist Movement and the Underground Railroad was occuring all over Brooklyn. Certainly there are other places in Brooklyn where the Abolitionist Movement and Underground Railroad were more active and thus more relevant than Duffield Street in terms of historical preservation.

So what goes up now?

More “luxury” condos?

From Underground Railroad to Underwater Mortgage…