The LPC Called Out For Playing Favorites

Victorian Flatbush, via mercurialn's flickr

Does the Landmarks Preservation Commission have a brownstone bias? Earlier this year the group revealed that they would be focusing their efforts on Park Slope while delaying landmark status designations in Ditmas Park and Beverly Square West. One Ditmas resident says, "The [LPC] has limited resources, but it shouldn't be to the exclusion of the Victorian neighborhoods. If it's worthy, they should fund it and do it."

Borough head honcho Marty Markowitz agrees! He told the LPC in a letter, "It is not appropriate public policy to place [Victorian Flatbush] on hold while purely Brownstone Brooklyn is pursued. There must be an equitable balance." But the group says they don't play favorites, and the decision was made because many of the Victorian neighborhood buildings have already been too altered. Plus, the Park Slope set says they need "another layer of protection against new development."

The LPC has been called out for playing favorites before... like, maybe if Jack Kerouac's former home wasn't in Queens it would be landmarked already?

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By Jen Carlson in News on March 10, 2010 5:15 PM

Comments [rss]

really!?!?

why would someone want their home landmarked? it significantly diminishes the home's value. you lose many of your property rights. you will never be allowed to add any form of an addition to your home. any repair that you will need to do in the future will require LPC approval, take x5 as long and cost much much more.

etypical

That doesn't sound quite right, I grew up on Argyle Rd., near Beverly Rd. and our house was landmarked waaaay back in the early '80s.

sowhtifithppnsitwll

There are huge areas that can be saved south of Church Ave. between Ocean Parkway and Ocean Avenue. I'm sure the area is actually larger than my description.