BREAKING: Dumbo Designated as Landmark District
Moments ago, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted 8-0 to designate the Brooklyn waterfront neighborhood of Dumbo as an historic district. Here’s what Commish Bob Tierney had to say: DUMBO was essential to Brooklyn’s rise as a major manufacturing center, and was home to some of America’s most important industrial firms that produced everything from ale…
Moments ago, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted 8-0 to designate the Brooklyn waterfront neighborhood of Dumbo as an historic district. Here’s what Commish Bob Tierney had to say:
DUMBO was essential to Brooklyn’s rise as a major manufacturing center, and was home to some of America’s most important industrial firms that produced everything from ale and paper boxes to soap and steel wool. DUMBO’s distinctively designed buildings and sublime vistas survive to this day, and still define its character, even as it has evolved into a largely residential neighborhood. This designation will ensure that this still-evolving neighborhood retains its unique historic character.
The new district—bound by John Street to the north, York Street to the south, Main Street to the west and Bridge Street to the east—includes 91 buildings, most of them constructed between 1880 and 1920. Next up: A vote from City Council, which is expected to be a mere formality.
At Dumbo Landmarking Hearing, All Signs Point to Yes [Brownstoner]
Dumbo Landmarking On The Fast Track? [Brownstoner]
December 19, 2007 1:14 AM: We echo the points you made so well. By the way the link to go to is http://www.savethebrooklynbridge.org/ (not .com).
9:31 Fascism comes in different colors.
But they usually only like black or brown shirts.
1:14, DUMBO was ruined when the artists got priced out. Don’t act like it’s not already a yuppie hellhole.
Many buildings in DUMBO are nice and as a result there’s market demand for them. But local government shouldn’t be in the business of imposing some property owners’ tastes on others, which is what happens in landmark districts. It works well for areas that have historical value but have fallen on hard times, but where it’s at a market peak, it’s all about property owners holding down supply, at best, and at worst, asserting control over the appearances of properties they don’t own.
9:31 Fascism comes in different colors. The old renegade is the new convention. And counterculture is of the past.
The Empire Stores are in their own historic district, the Fulton Ferry District, which has been in place for decades.
Am I correct in reading the map that the Empire Stores site is also outside the district? I don’t see the logic in that. It’s clearly historic. If someone wants to develop it, they should have to play by the same rules as the the other DUMBO buildings.
This community seems to be full of strident anti-development loonies. The stridency and the rigid brainset are almost totalitarian in nature. As is the nutty attitude that if a person disagrees with them they must be on the payroll of the developer -or satan!
These types of people are scary. They’re bullies and jerks.
The idea that they sunk the perfectly reasonable proposal of putting a middle school in the new building speaks for itself. Even children’s welfare must take second place to their maniacal delusions that the Brooklyn Bridge is threatened and that a midrise building is out of character with the area, which is full of gigantic tall factories and warehouses.
I do not work for Wallentas but I don’t feel like kow-towing to the activist morons either.
7:04. Just as long as you let me take out all the brownstones in the north slope between 7th and 8th aves and up to the park with my flamethrower.
does this mean we can blow up the abominable J condo and that piece of crap across from the General Store on Front?