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Why is Crow Hill, a swath of Crown Heights running roughly between Franklin and Classon and Atlantic and Eastern Parkway, called Crow Hill? Well, even folks at the Crow Hill Community Association aren’t sure, but they aim to find out, as part of their attempt to gauge interest in landmarking the area. One reason for the landmark status: the neighborhood is sandwiched between Crown Heights North, already landmarked, and Prospect Heights, which is up for the designation, leaving it “very vulnerable to development,” says Nina Meledandri, who handles public relations for CHCA. They’ll meet to tonight to discuss the endeavor at 7:30PM at the Haitian American Daycare Center: 1491 Bedford Avenue at St. John’s.
Photo by …neene….


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  1. “ROTW uses the same language as the unscrupulous “block-buster” real-estate agents who operated so effectively in NYC during the “white flight” days of the 60’s. They peddled fear, and bought homes on the cheap from those who fled. He fails to understand that this is a different era. He may be trying to do the same thing, as there are runmours that he is a real estate agent. Pay no attention to him.”

    “I believe the old Heinz warehouse is on the list. The current owners just wrote in recently on Brownstoner regarding plans to turn it into a residential/commercial complex, keeping as much of the historic detail and facade as possible.”

    Moist? MM..

    The What

    Someday this war is gonna end…

  2. I think it would be possible to landmark a subway stop, I think it’s been done before in Manhattan,11233. The Park Place building isn’t original, but they may be able to landmark anything that is left, like some original light fixtures on the route. See Kevin Walsh’s site, Forgotten New York for a whole feature on the shuttle. It’s fascinating. I would think landmarking the shuttle would be a separate affair, but it would be worth it. I really like the shuttle, too, and it would be a shame to lose it.
    http://www.forgotten-ny.com/SUBWAYS/Franklin%20Ave%20station/franklin.html

    I believe the old Heinz warehouse is on the list. The current owners just wrote in recently on Brownstoner regarding plans to turn it into a residential/commercial complex, keeping as much of the historic detail and facade as possible.

  3. MM: This area covers the warehouse building at the northwest corner of Franklin and Bergen, correct? I love that building and hate to think that someone is going to get it, tear it down and build something fugly. I wish them good luck.

    Hmmmm. You can’t landmark the Franklin Avenue shuttle stop at Park Place, can you? Don’t want to lose another one of those stations. (I love the Franklion Avenue shuttle!)

  4. Hey What;

    I see that you have now descended into the realm of plagiarism too.

    For everyone’s info: the comment that What posts at 12.02 PM is actually mine. You can see that I made this comment at 10.25 this morning under the “Tuesday Links” section.

    Once again What: we see through your game. New York may be in for some tough times, but we are not scared by your fear- mongering. Your pathetic attempts to be a “block-buster” are apparent and amateurish.

    Please try to find a way in which you can contribute to society. Your 15 minutes of fame are over.

  5. Back to Crow Hill, there are a couple of reasons for the name. One is that this part of CH sits on the highest part of the Heights of Crown Heights, at Eastern Parkway and Bedford Ave. I remember reading something about a lot of crows in the area, hence the name. Less charitable sources also point to an African American community in the area, not nearby Weekesville, btw, that gave rise to the perjorative nickname.

    This area is worthy, worthy, worthy of designation. It is a unique combination of fine blocks of row houses in all kinds of styles and materials, some excellent churches and hospital buildings, as well as a unique collection of commercial buildings, from the warehouse complex on Franklin and Bergen and Dean, often mentioned here, the renovated Studebaker Building, already a stand alone landmark, as well as other automobile showrooms dating from when the area was automobile showroom heaven, and the original Loemann’s store, with its Chinese dragon theme and peacock stained glass windows. There are also some excellent apartment buildings in the area as well.

    There is no doubting this area’s worthiness to be protected, especially since some blocks are industrial and underbuilt, and would be ripe for overdevelopment. Landmarking would still allow for building, just not crap building. I wish Neene, whom I know and respect, well. Her group is working hard, and have the support and help of her neighbors next door in Crown Heights North.

  6. ROTW uses the same language as the unscrupulous “block-buster” real-estate agents who operated so effectively in NYC during the “white flight” days of the 60’s. They peddled fear, and bought homes on the cheap from those who fled. He fails to understand that this is a different era. He may be trying to do the same thing, as there are runmours that he is a real estate agent. Pay no attention to him.

    The What

    Someday this war is gonna end…

  7. Back in the late 1800’s the area now known as Crown Heights was actually a crow sanctuary and it’s terrain was on a hill compared to the south and north of the area. That is how the name Crow Hill originated.

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