MacDonough Street Update
Following the party wall collapse and subsequent evacuation of 329 and 331 MacDonough Street in Bed Stuy early Wednesday morning, a hearing was held on Friday afternoon to decide whether both brownstones needed to be demolished as the Department of Buildings had initially indicated. The judge ended up ruling that the DOB review the situation…
Following the party wall collapse and subsequent evacuation of 329 and 331 MacDonough Street in Bed Stuy early Wednesday morning, a hearing was held on Friday afternoon to decide whether both brownstones needed to be demolished as the Department of Buildings had initially indicated. The judge ended up ruling that the DOB review the situation over the weekend with outside engineers to determine whether destroying the historic structures was in fact the only course of action. A source on the block we heard from told us that four out of the five engineers on site Saturday came out in favor of preserving the buildings, a view which will surely be presented to the judge at today’s follow-up hearing but will likely be resisted by DOB. “It’s seriously @$%^ed up!” wrote one reader who lives down the street. “This will be like the block losing its two front teeth.” The hearing will be held at 360 Adams Street, Room 438 at 2:30 pm; tenants (two of whom are shown above with some of the belongings DOB employees retrieved for them on Saturday) and block members are encouraging as many people to turn out as possible. If you would like more information about the situation, please contact Suzette Hunte at 917.721.7258 or Krystal Codett at 347.489.6551.
Wall Collapse, Vacate Order, Maybe Demo on MacDonough [Brownstoner]
Brooklyn Renovation Leaves 8 Residents Homeless [NY Daily News]
City Rushing Surprise Demolition [Brooklyn Eagle]
what Dave said.
The LPC needs to at least seem sympathetic even if they believe there is nothing they can do to save two beautiful landmark buildings from the 1870’s.
Link to this on your Facebook pages, send out email.
Amzi, is there any way engineers can reinforce the buildings without entering them?
Yeah I think the courtroom mouth dropped when the landmarked guy started talking. One good thing about this is that the judge has connections with Bedford Stuyvesant I think. He seems like he wants to to do all possible to save this houses we just have to come with our homework done.. I hate to say Mr Lynch had his done. He was such a matter of fact type of guy.
Typical, Amzi.
Like I said above….
With the designation of “Landmarked” should come some responsibility on the part of LPC, not only the homeowner, to work for the integrity of the building, the street and the neighborhood.
LPC needs to “go to bat” in these circumstances.
These peoples’ true colors are showing… 9-5 civil servant union jobs.
yeah a guy named Tim Weiss he could care less he was with the city.. Only thing thing he did said is that he would be in favor of preserving the facade but dose not car if they demolish the buildings in so many words…
Amzi, was anyone from LPC there??? Do they even seem to care????
I was at court Friday and I will be in court today. Dave is so right about the little leprechauns ego. I think the entire courtroom could have jump on this guy. The city just cares about a quick solution. These houses like Carrol Gardens have front yards and set back far from the street. The DOB has the barrier out so far that now you can get hit by a car as you walk down MacDonough St. The city should want to find ways to help save these houses built in 1872 like St Felix.
Emily Rich is apparently an upstanding, typical government employee full of the usual useless information.
What a joke.
Last week there was an e-mail posted on Brownstoner by Landmarks to contact Emily Rich who would then get back to us with information as soon as possible. I posted a request for information to Ms. Rich over the weekend, and here is the response she sent:
Hello,
Our Deputy Counsel suggested you contact the DOB for more information.
Thank you,
Emily Rich
Public Information Officer
Landmarks Preservation Commission
One Centre Street, 9th Floor North
New York, NY 10007
Ph: 212-669-7817
Fax: 212-669-3844