In the second half of our class on 9/30, we will have a guest speaker from the Historic Districts Council. Attendance at guest lectures is required, so please make every effort to attend this class session.
BLOG POST #3 Research a recent preservation controversy in New York City. Write a reflection identifying the major issues, actors and arguments on each side (300 words).
ARCH 3640 Historic Preservation: Theory and Practice
Redon Rexha
Preserving the History
Penn Station
History plays a very important role in our lives. We learn about it, save it, and use it as a model to make decisions for our future. Growing up in Brooklyn, I was always amazed by the architecture of the historical monuments. These historical arts were made by real people who worked very hard to make the New York City the best city in the world. Their goal was to build infrastructure for generations to come in the land of opportunities.
Furthermore, their great accomplishments motivated thousands of people to become civil engineers and architects. “Architecture is to be regarded by us with the most serious thought. We may live without her and worship without her, but we cannot remember without her”
(J. Ruskin). We save old buildings because we need to preserve the marks left on our national landscape by the many people who have shaped it.
Therefore, preserving our history is linked to our cultural background. “It is not too late to prevent another Pennsylvania Station moment in the history of the preservation of the community assets so vital to the society.” The loss of that architectural masterpiece woke people up all over the nation to the importance of fighting to preserve irreplaceable buildings and saving artifacts. Penn Station carrying signs reading “Shame” and “Don’t Amputate — Renovate.” The demolition process was slowly and sustained for three years. The battle continued for almost a year. As a result of it, in 1965, they created the Landmarks Preservation Commission. So it is clear that the loss of Pennsylvania Station played an important role in shaping New York’s preservation history.
Finally, New York became the leader in the preservation of its landmarks and the identification of the structures and sites is an important part of defending New York City’s rich past.
Bassem Elashrafi
Prof. Inna Guzenfield
Arch 3640
Fall 2014
HW #3
5 Pointz
As a resident of Queens this made me very sad. I loved 5 Pointz and often went there with my friends i understand that the buildings were privately owned and that people had no right to draw graffiti on them, but I don’t understand why the owner would paint it over in one night – yes its his right – but he cultivated what in effect is a museum. Also, whats not discussed is all those artists and funky people that moved in around that building had an economic impact. I noticed as the graffiti level went up everything else improved quickly in the surrounding blocks as artists moved in. Less abandoned cars, more foot traffic, some new coffee shops, less broken grass, fewer needles and bums, a lot less general debris, and most of all (despite all the paint) a general feeling of safety. These people are the ones who set us up for gentrification phase 2 and he should have done something for them. He could have set a date, let tour companies and visitors plan their final visits and then torn down the building. Nobody would have protested – they would have celebrated an end of an amazing project. In my opinion it was a wrong move – but of course he has the right to do as he feels best.
Jean Reginald Saintange
Arch 3640
Prof. Inna Guzenfeld
HWK # 3
Fillmore Place and Driggs Avenue
In Williamsburg, a neighborhood I usually sojourn, The Landmarks Preservation Commission approved an application on Aug. 12 to construct a glass preschool on the southwest corner of Fillmore Place and Driggs Avenue. The school is said to occupy the former site of a toy factory that sat idle for over 40 years. Despite the site’s dereliction, some residents have mounted vehemently to fight to preserve the character of the mid-nineteenth century Italianate brick row houses on Williamsburg’s which is the only landmarked block, Fillmore Place Historic District. “This is the only home I know and I don’t want to lose it,” said Maribel Medina, a longtime Fillmore Place resident. Medina has memories of the 140 year old house that date back to the age of four; which brings me to this question I was asked in the first day of class , does this (historic preservation) value exist in the past or the present? Medina continues by saying “With any project, to my understanding, when you’re going to do some kind of construction, you have to also think about the people who are next to you.” According to the article residents express skepticism about the population that the for profit school is meant to serve, because it requires an annual minimum tuition of $20,000 per student, a price tag no resident can afford. “A modern design can be perfectly appropriate at the designated location,” said Andrew Dolkart, Professor of Historic Preservation at Columbia University School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. The residents’ prediction of higher rents that will force low-income minorities out are dramatic assumptions said Dolkart. According to him, architects should have the freedom to design architecture of the time and because a preschool is being built instead of luxury apartments, the residents should not be concerned about being ousted. I say when ones leaves a little hole unfilled or unprotected, water penetration will inevitably supervene causing a much bigger problem. Addressing the hole sooner will prevent bigger problem later. The residence of Fillmore Place and Driggs Avenue must stand unified in effort cause if not, more projects will be coming to their neck of the woods.
Edgar Guaman
Prof. Inna Guzenfield
Arch 3640
Fall 2014
Domino Sugar Factory
In this case the Domino Sugar Factory is already in line to be demolished and become prime real estate. The Sugar factory is located on the waterfront of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It was built in 1856 and is a historic building for NYC. People around the neighborhood are devastated that the factory will be pretty much gone in order to make way for the new residential towers that will take its place. The later addition to the factory will remain and be redeveloped as a modern apartment building. People in the neighborhood are very upset about this big change that is about to happen to the neighborhood. Some of their points on why this should not happen are the overpopulation that the already overpopulated neighborhood would experience. Williamsburg has only one line that connects the neighborhood to Manhattan and that’s the L line. With the line already packed with daily commuters coming in and out of the city, with the new apartment high rise buildings being built they fear that the transportation gridlock will come to a halt. It would end up being chaotic and very over populated. Another argument that the locals are giving is the land value rise that the Williamsburg area is going through. Although it is very good for the city to be able to expand its more middle to high income residents to the outer boroughs and transform this abandoned and what they call ugly area into a beautiful green space with residential buildings and raising the value astronomically. It is very bad for the residents that had already lived there for many years. Many of them, with the rising rent prices already going on in the area have to move from their apartments or even sell their homes because they are no longer able to afford the living expense. It may be good for the economy but it’s bad for the people that have living there for many years.
The Ground zero mosque is a controversial project. Some residents are trying to prevent its construction because of it close proximity to Ground Zero. Their discussion was there is an old Italianate style building in its place. They were trying to prevent this project by using historic preservation as an excuse. They claim that they had no right to demolish a building this old. However, there are many Italianate style structures in NYC. This does not mean that every building of that style qualifies for preservation. They lost their case.
Ye Hwee
Preserve Park Slope Inc. filed lawsuit against NY Methodist Hospital Expansion.
The city Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) approved the expansion of the Methodist hospital on June 17th 2014 unanimously. The hospital is located in the middle of Park Slope historic district on 8th avenue and 6th street in Brooklyn. The proposed hospital will cover most the block occupying almost 500,000 square foot.
The plaintiff Preserve Park Slope Inc., mostly consist of the people living in the neighborhood said BSA’s decision to grant the zoning variance to hospital have “overstepped its authority”. The plaintiff also said that the expansion will knock down 16 existing 3 to 4 stories brownstone houses which are the backbone of the Park Slope neighborhood. They also worry that the proposed design uses modern materials such as glass and steel in addition to the building height of 150 feet will create out of place and character of the surrounding neighborhood.
The spokeswoman for the hospital said the new hospital will accommodate about 100,000 patients annually. The hospital also claimed that they made over 20 changes to satisfy the community’s feedback which included reducing the overall height, adding a rear yard to provide light, air and green space. As for the 16 buildings to be demolished, hospital officials said that most of those buildings are either vacant or already being used as back-office space for the NY Methodist hospital.
It will be unlikely that the decision to grant the zoning variance be overturned by court. However, for the people living in neighborhood who believe that the Methodist plans for expansion will disrupt the beautiful residential historic community. So by filing a lawsuit the hospital will have to delay construction until this matter is solved.
Development at St. Luke in the Fields
There is a major argument that has arouse between St. Luke in the fields and Greenwich village residents/boards. St Luke in the fields serves the neighborhood by “making space available for organizations including school and programs of all kinds. They state that they have been called to strive “education, hospitality and witness”, which is one of the major points developers seek for construction. In this case, the church proposed a new 153 foot tall brick and glass tower on 100 Barrow Street in the Greenwich Village, which is now considered a historic district. Locals concluded that the new proposed building is to tall and to overwhelming for the historical block. They suggested that the building should be much lower and turn the main face of the building away from the low rise district. They are worried that this building will be the start of other buildings to pass the height lever of other buildings in the area and probably justify a new code for the district. After close review and meetings, St Luke’s proposed another drawing which lowered the height of the building, excluding the upper brick part, modifications to the rooftop, improved colors which would blend in with surrounding buildings, and a more energy efficient system. The pictures now show in relation to the historical building across the street, the height does not overwhelm, and blends more than the first proposed structure. This is a victory for residents and the historical district council.
Reference:
http://hdc.org/blog/e-bulletin-3-14-2014
http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2014/05/07/st_luke_scales_back_expansion_plans_winning_landmarks_ok.php#more
The Church of St. Luke in the Fields, which occupies a plot between Hudson, Barrow, Christopher, and Greenwich Streets in the Greenwich Village Historic District, has applied to construct a new building on a parking lot at the southwest corner of its campus. The new building is to be a 153-foot-tall brick and glass tower designed by architects, Beyer Blinder Belle. Beyer Blinder Belle, justifies the proposed building’s height by relating it to the proposed frthe 176-foot-tall Archive Building, which happens to be an individual landmark outside of the historic district. The Landmarks Preservation Commission held a public hearing on February 4th where local elected officials, community board 2, preservation advocates, neighborhood associations and roughly 30 area residents disagreed and spoke in strong opposition to the project. Another public meeting was held on March 11, in which the Commissioners generally found the proposed new building to be too tall for the district and too overwhelming for the block. They had suggested that it should be lowered and turned to face away from the low-rise district to be less of a confrontation. The argument was that such a building would set in justifying height according to buildings and views outside of historic districts. The Commission has asked that both components of this proposal be revised and brought back for further review. Personally I feel the height of the building depends on zoning, but it seems everybody wants to build tall glass towers. Long island city is going through the some thing everyone is buying land and build tall glass towers. There must be some order. As architects Beyer Blinder Belle should revise their proposal and consider their projects surrounding to their design. As of know we will have rot wait and see what changes are made t the project and of the commission reacts to the project. Personally I feel Beyer Blinder Belle should respect the fact they’re building in an historic district and should push their design according to their location. Since they didn’t the first time, I think that is what everyone straggly opposed the design.
Kenny Alvear
Prof. Inna Guzenfield
Arch 3640
Fall 2014
Gowanus Canal Historic District
Buildings and sites that are full of significance, especially ones that helped build a community or the prosperity of a town, deserve to be protected, preserved and be given recognition for it’s feats. There is a recent controversy involving a community and development corporations. Two groups, the Gowanus Alliance and the Gowanus Canal Community Development Corporation are protesting the proposed listing of the Gowanus Canal Historic District on the New York State and National Register of Historic Places. Friends and Residents of Greater Gowanus (FROGG) is the community that began their campaign ten years ago to place the area on the Register in recognition of its importance to the history and development of New York City. Gowanus was declared eligible for National Register listing in 2006 by the NYC Office of Historic Preservation. When the research reached a nomination for Gowanus, which was scheduled to be voted upon by the State Review board on March 13, the New York City’s Law Department requested a postponement of the vote for 60 days while city officials evaluated the proposal. Although by state law, the city has the right to request a delay, the city has limited authority to modify any details of the proposal.
The controversy here is that the development corporation is afraid to lose the power to develop projects having to do with the areas that will be protected and off limits to alterations and additions of desire. The Gowanus holds archaeological resources and a substantial number of functional and residential architecture. Architecture that is still functional to this day. As per the Gowanus Alliance, “this proposed district could impose significant costs, complications, and restrictions on development, construction, renovation, maintenance and the operation of our properties”. They do not seem to care about the history any longer. They seem to have forgotten the historical significance of this essential and important area. The Gowanus Canal deserves to be acknowledged of its greatness, its importance and the role it played in the prosperity of Brooklyn, of New York City, and this country.
The Riverside West-End historic district features 338 buildings including french style apartments buildings and other religious and social public amenities.This district has went through three major waves of major construction transforming the rural landscape of the upper west side in to residential apartment lofts. The influx of different dynamic architects and their various approaches towards the re development of the west end avenue. Throughout the three waves of construction shows us the change in the historical district conforming to the zoning and setback requirements of each redevelopment phase as instructed by the building act.