Unprotected Sunset Park Being Destroyed Bit by Bit
The website Cititour has an advocacy post about the destruction of brownstones in Sunset Park. The item focuses on the house above, on 54th Street and 6th Avenue, part of “a row of turn-of-the-century brownstones with stained glass windows and fireplaces [that] are being destroyed bit by bit.” The blog writer argues: Witnessing this destruction…
The website Cititour has an advocacy post about the destruction of brownstones in Sunset Park. The item focuses on the house above, on 54th Street and 6th Avenue, part of “a row of turn-of-the-century brownstones with stained glass windows and fireplaces [that] are being destroyed bit by bit.” The blog writer argues:
Witnessing this destruction should make the case for giving the area landmark status before it’s too late. The neighborhood has been seeing an all-out assault on row houses in recent months as real estate prices remain fairly high. Some are being torn down to make room for condos, others are having additional floors added, and still other two-family homes are being converted into 4-families, again with the city’s blessing, and a total disregard to the neighborhood. It’s a crying shame.
While we don’t doubt that new construction in Sunset Park is felling older buildings, we’re unaware of whether there is an organized movement afoot to landmark the area. Can Sunset Park readers fill us in?
A Brownstone Dies In Brooklyn [Cititour]
Photos from Cititour.
I don’t think the person destroying the brownstone in the picture is overly concerned about New York’s housing crisis or ever ponders the array of challenges that 21st century population growth present our society — if he does, then he’s a greedy self centered jerk. More likely though, he’s the factory worker who’s owned the building since the 70’s when he bought it for $30k and now sees a way to secure a comfortable retirement. I’m not saying that this justifies participating in the evisceration of a historic district’s character. But it does illustrate how through banal decisions and a tendency toward expediency, a society can eventually deprive itself of some of the things that make living in a city humanizing, elevating, special. Some people think there’s nothing bad about Queens. Some people like living in a tiny windowed brick-bunker-like structure with an a/c in the wall because they know it was built less than 20 years ago. They’re successful. They live in a new building. Only the poor live in old crappy buldings…
I have also seen the DoB file. The plan goes way over the FAR limit. Also it appears from the picture that there is a demolition in progress here and there is no permit!
What is DoB doing?
Re-zoning will help but if there is no enforcement, it’s hopeless.
there is a shortage of housing in the area. so too bad. if you like those buildings so much go buy it.
cities need to expand. we can’t all live in the burbs like you guys like to. higher density is good for mother earth.
What also smells about this is this from the permit filed at the DOB:
CONVERT EXIST’G(U.G.2) 1ST FL INTO COMMERCIAL SPPACE (U.G.6) FRONT AND REAR VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL EXTENSION, INCLUDING PLUMBING, PARTITION, STRUTRAL,FOUNDATION WORK. REQUIRED NEW C. OF O. FOR ONE RETAIL SPACE AND 2 FAMILIES. for $75,000. What they are doing is more like a $250,000+ rebuild. Something stinks here!!!
Context: Across the ave is a full row of turn of the century brownstones fortunately zoned R6. This is a commercial development, there is a C1-3 overlay on that side of 6th ave. It was a two family 3 story brownstone no clue as to what the new commercial space will be. It’s not that development is bad it’s the choices the developers are making. This is greed, nothing more.
The rights of owners to build/trash their properties extend precisely to the extent granted by law and the limits imposed by their neighbors through property, zoning, criminal and landmark laws.
If owners abuse their rights by building garbage that has value only because of their neighbors (owners and not) without contributing to the neighborhood, then the law should change to stop them.
If you want the right to freeload without limitation, go to Houston, which has no zoning, or find an island and live by yourself. In the city, people who take without contributing will — sooner or later — get what they deserve.
2:40 – The majority of comments make it clear that the posters don’t know Sunset Park very well. A lot of 6th Avenue is brownstones, and limestones are also common. What is also common, unfortunately, is new construction sites with Fedders all over them. Also, on 42nd Street, a large new apartment building has sunken the backyards of several homes on 43rd Street. Don’t THOSE homeowners have rights as well? The irresponsible building and renovation that is occurring all over Sunset Park affects both sensibilities and safety.
Sunset has lots of coop buildings, and it was one of the top areas in Brooklyn for building sales. There are also several SRO’s. It’s greed, not a shortage of housing over on this end of Green-Wood.
Is that enough context?
Really 2.15? – stop paying your property taxes for a few years and see what happens.
Classic post, 12:28. Your ilk always assumes that anyone who disagrees a preservation agenda must have never set foot in the neighborhood.