Stay of Execution on MacDonough Street
The second hearing about the future of 329 and 331 MacDonough Street, the two Stuyvesant Heights brownstones threatened with demolition after the collapse of a party wall last week, was held yesterday afternoon at 360 Adams Street. Here’s a report we received from a resident of the block: The Judge called in the lawyers and…
The second hearing about the future of 329 and 331 MacDonough Street, the two Stuyvesant Heights brownstones threatened with demolition after the collapse of a party wall last week, was held yesterday afternoon at 360 Adams Street. Here’s a report we received from a resident of the block:
The Judge called in the lawyers and engineers leaving the public in the hall to wonder what was happening. After an hour the public was allowed in and told that the engineers would have until Wednesday Jan. 27th to present a plan to save the properties. Mrs. Prince, the owner of 331 MacDonough St., has retained a lawyer and engineer in the hopes of saving her property. The Judge has told the public that he is aware of their concerns but, the issue will be resolved by the engineers and our presence in court on the 27th will not be necessary.
Meanwhile, we also contact the Landmarks Preservation Commission to get a better sense of their position and ability to act as advocates for preservation in this case. Here’s the response we got:
Members of our staff have visited the site, and are communicating extensively with the Department of Buildings about these important buildings. Under the Landmarks Law, no Landmarks approval is needed for measures the Department of Buildings must take to address public safety issues. We are advocating for saving as much of the buildings as is safely possible, while deferring to the Department’s engineering knowledge and experience in public safety matters. Landmarks and Buildings have a long history of working together to save historic buildings, and this case is no exception.
We’re also curious to hear how active a role (if any) Councilman Al Vann, who owns a house on the historic block, has taken in the situation. Can anyone tell us?
MacDonough Street Update 1/25/10 [Brownstoner]
Wall Collapse, Vacate Order, Maybe Demo on MacDonough [Brownstoner]
Denton,
I never said wood is better in a fire than steel. See earlier post about steel / wood / fire. This post is long and builds on earlier comments.
bxgirl, in recent times I believe 5.8.
But there are some risks. Here’s a link to a Discovery page
http://tlc.discovery.com/convergence/quakes/articles/citiesatrisk_04.html
Note specifically what it says:
“The generally well-designed towers in the Manhattan’s skyline most likely would survive a 6.0, but the unreinforced masonry townhouses where most residents live might not fare so well.”
Benson,
My earlier post:
“Question to all ass umers: how much structural work have you done with your own hands?”
Your earlier post:
“To answer your question: I am a mechanical engineer.”
This post was originally about the structural integrity of a Brownstone.
You have had a very opinionated stance in the thread. Your post about being a ME was to lead me to believe you were somehow professionally qualified to have that opinion.
Your education credentials are impressive but not on point. Does your “extensive renovation” that you “did yourself” include anything structural?
You can be dubious about my claim, I’m fine with that. I can say that they are a lot of things that are not discussed in the class room that go on in real life.
My structural experience goes beyond renovating my own house. But I could have used my house as a Masters Thesis.
Truse.
benson, not to rehash everything, but i have had some minor experience with the dob. I’m sure they have any number of good people working for them. I don’t know the qualifications of the guy who rushed in and condemned. But a lot of these guys frankly don’t know what they are doing. From personal experience.
denton- what’s the strongest earthquake ever recorded for NYC?
I am interested in disasters of various kinds and have had long convos with a number of structural engineers concerning earthquakes in NYC, which are not unknown. They have advised me that all these old masonry and wood joist houses would collapse en masse. Unlike steel frame buildings.
“Steel is far from the perfect building material. It rusts. Not great in a fire. There are already a lot of steel frame buildings in NY that have required significant structural replacement of decaying steel.”
P3, I share benson’s interest in this. I’ve never seen it. And to say steel is not great in a fire, but wood joists that comprise all these brownstones are, is beyond funny.
Pig three;
I’m not inclined to take up a contest on engineering know-how over the internet. Since you want to question my credentials,I’ll tell you that I went to undergrad degree at Cooper Union, and then went on a scholarship to get my Master’s degree at Stanford University.
My work has been in the field of fiber optics. I was a pioneer in the development of long-haul fiber-optic systems that crossed the ocean floor, for both commecial and military purposes.
I am extremely dubious about your claim about structural steel replacements. I am in the process of completing a study on management of office buildings/commercial property (for a career change I am contemplating) and this topic was never discussed.
Finally, before I moved into my condo, I lived in a brick row-house, which I extensively renovated myself too.
fsrq,
No, never said I was an engineer. I have done a lot of structural work with my own hands. I can say with a straight face, with my experience, I know more about structural issues in NY row houses than Benson. I’ll take life experience over theory from a text book any day.
If we are talking about structural strength of a townhouse, why is useful life not a factor. These are homes, what are the advances worth if they only last 50 years?
I know my 1880 brick will be around longer than any Fedders, that I am willing to put money on.
fsrq. Are you an engineer or builder? Do you give that promise in writing to buyers of the Fedders you have built?
Benson, I will compile the list of buildings that have had structural steel replaced. It may take a little while. Also, since you are hanging around, what type of engineering do you specifically do?
No