Historic Properties Get a Reprieve, Local Legislators Disappointed

The series of residential structures lining Flushing Ave. in Brooklyn are historic treasures, but they are a little the worse for wear and some legislators can't wait to tear them down. Officers' Row, or Admirals' Row, is a feature at the Brooklyn Navy Yard that has admittedly fallen into sad disrepair, but nonetheless has a rich history linking New York harbor to the naval industry that was a cornerstone of building the United States as an international power.

If one visits Admirals Row, it's clear that the structures are a disaster. Whether they're beyond salvation, however, is unclear. Some people want to bulldoze the stretch on Flushing Ave. and install a grocery store. Opponents wish that the 150-year-old homes could be preserved and stand as a waterfront example of the maritime history of Brooklyn. It's a rich history.

Admirals Row used to be a stretch of stately homes belonging to houses of high-ranking officers of the U.S. Navy when the Brooklyn Naval Yard was a strategic national asset. Neighboring Sands Street catered, so to speak, so assiduously to 19th century sailors, that naval personnel eventually had to be banned from walking down it. If one walks down Flushing Ave. at this time, it's possible to peer through the overgrowth and see the homes of Admirals Row, across the street from a highway overpass and otherwise empty lot. The Brooklyn Navy Yard is located on Wallabout Bay in Kings County. It's a location of national significance because the British anchored prison ships in the bay during the American Revolution under unspeakable conditions. Thousands of patriots perished and were dumped into the harbor during the war.

bw-building, by rezendi at flickr