This afternoon, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted unanimously to give parts of the Domino Sugar Refinery in Williamsburg landmark status. Redevelopment plans for the old Domino location call for 2,200 apartments (about 660 will be affordable housing) on the entire 11.5 acre site. The Landmark status was specifically given to three buildings (the filter house, the pan house, and the finishing house). Even before the LPC acted, development of the site included some preservation despite the construction of many new buildings. It's unclear how the landmark status will affect redevelopment plans.

Brownstoner has quotes from the hearing, including one member saying that she regrets that the sign wasn't included in the landmark designation but hoped it could be saved "through the powers of persuasion." They also quote the commission chair Robert Tierney as saying the landmark status "underscores LPC's commitment to preserving industrial Brooklyn." While that may be true, Domino is the first thing to be preserved on Brooklyn's "endangered" waterfront.

Photo of the Domino Sugar Refinery by kenyee on flickr