Huge Architectural Salvage Haul at Circa Antiques
We have spent much of the past year scouring the local sources of architectural salvage and we’ve never seen a one-off haul like this. Circa Antiques on Atlantic Avenue has taken possesion of the entire inside of a historically perfect brownstone! They’ve got everything from staircases to paneling to fireplaces to bathroom fixtures. Truly mind-boggling…
We have spent much of the past year scouring the local sources of architectural salvage and we’ve never seen a one-off haul like this. Circa Antiques on Atlantic Avenue has taken possesion of the entire inside of a historically perfect brownstone! They’ve got everything from staircases to paneling to fireplaces to bathroom fixtures. Truly mind-boggling and certainly raises our curiosity about why a house like this is being gutted. A new modernist-leaning owner? A developer putting in slick new condos? Wish we knew.
Architectural Salvage [Circa Antiques]
I can say that my old brownstone in its original configuration, would make a terrible space for a half-way house. 2-3 giant rooms per floor, not enough small spaces, tubs with no showers, tiny kitchen…
I’m doing nothing for these young girls, so I find it tough to find fault with those who are.
We all know about old gas line and carbon monoxide. I’d venture to say that most of the readers here live in old brownstones. No one is advocating putting lives in danger so let’s not get into hyperbole here. The question is, why it would require totally stripping the details out of the place in order to get the building up to code for the girls half-way house. It would be nice if it could retain much of the character that would make it a welcoming and warm place for those unfortunate young ladies.
some of these walls hide gas lines from gas fixtures that still contain gas… some of the fireplaces are carbon monxide traps… there are code issues. I love mantels but I really do put girls’ lives in front of things like that
I agree with Cocco. Also, why would federal funding require ripping out all of the beautiful intact detail? I don’t get it. Seems like a policy (if it is true) that is not well thought out or that is applied across the board without specific review of the properties concerned.
In fact the guys at Circa told me that they were contacted because the organization (United Methodist City) recognized the beauty of the wood work and chose an antiques dealer and restorer over an architecural salvage firm (i.e. OldeGoodeThings).
A little homework just turned up a building permit that says they’re adding an extension to the rear of the building. This new extension will be easy to see from my garden. It also explains why the were willing to let go of the oringinal stained glass windows in the rear parlor bay.
http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/JobsQueryByNumberServlet?passjobnumber=301973880&passdocnumber=1
Hal is on the right track–codes for type of special use probably require removing all the detail–why this house then? Probably in area where it is needed and maybe more affordable/best condition available to non-profit. To their credit, they didn’t junk it, they tried to make sure it goes to a preservation-minded (if rich) person–maybe it’s on consignment?
A poster named Roz wrote recently in the topic Brownstoner recently posted about salvage places:
“Apparently the building is being converted into a half-way house and, in order to qualify for federal funds, the architect had to have someone strip out all the original details to make way for steel doors etc etc.”
OK, I stand corrected. I wrote earlier that not everything deserves saving just because it is old, but I hadn’t looked at the pictures of the house with everything intact (based on the thumbnails I thought it was just a tub and a maybe some doors). Wow. The pictures of that house are incredible. I do agree it is a shame to rip something out that is that intact and truly beautiful. This is obviously a different situation from a house that has been tampered with over the years leaving a mishmash of bad taste.
maybe because they don’t think the girls should have to bunk 12 to a room like a French orphanage. it’s cute in a picture book, not so much when irl.
I also think these girls might be past the doll stage