Community Corner

Proposed Historic District Expansion Raises Concerns

Meeting held at Bishop Loughlin Monday night to inform property, business owners of possible changes.

For those residents and business owners living and working adjacent to the existing Fort Greene Historic District, big changes may be on the way.

The Fort Greene Association sponsored a meeting Monday night at to provide information on the beginnings of a process to extend existing historic protections even further through the neighborhood.

The proposed expansion of the Fort Greene Historic District includes an area south and west of the existing area bounded by Dekalb Avenue to the north, Ashland Place to the west, Fulton Street to the south and Adelphi Street to the east.

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Blocks located east of Fort Greene Park between Willoughby Avenue and Myrtle Avenue up to Vanderbilt Avenue are also slated to be given historic designation by the city Landmark Preservation Commission.

Historic designation means that home and business owners in those areas would be required to get an LPC permit for most work involving the front or visible portion of their properties.

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"This is just the beginning of a long process," said Fort Greene Association president Paul Palazzo, who added that the proposal must go through extensive review before it heads to the City Council for a public hearing and possible vote.

The proposed extension comes as the City Council readies for a vote Wednesday to approve a historic district for nearby Wallabout. That vote would add teeth to bounded by Clermont, Park, Washington and Myrtle avenues by the state in March.

Councilwoman Letitia James, D-Brooklyn, said she understood concerns raised by constituents regarding increased oversight in historically designated neighborhoods—to a point.

"A number of individuals have called me and said to me, 'I don't want government in my business,'" James said. "Well, the government is already in your business."

Present at the meeting was LPC executive director Kate Daly, who assured residents and business owners that existing changes to building features like facades, doors and windows would be "grandfathered in" when, and if, the district expansion is approved.

For residents with lower incomes, a federal grant program to help with historically appropriate improvements and repairs is available. A loan program is an option for home and business owners who fall outside the income guidelines for grant money.

Established in 1978, the current Fort Greene Historic District consists of the mostly 19th century rowhouses that make the neighborhood a uniquely-Brooklyn national treasure.

However, the LPC has identified 209 buildings outside the district reflecting a broader historical array that also deserve protection, according to researcher Mary Beth Betts.

Examples include late 19th century homes by architects Lamb & Rich to late 20th century multi-family and apartment buildings constructed to house the neighborhood's growing population.

Despite the assurances, some homeowners like Michael Gaouette of 77 Willoughby St. wanted to hear more about the proposed extension before offering their support.

"I hope it's not a fait accompli," Gaouette said. "We'll see."


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