D I S T R I C T LINES news and views of the historic districts council spring 2007 vol. XXI no. 1 sunnysIDe uP! Queens CommunIty Is on lPC’s front Burner at last sunnysIde gardens, queens, is poised to plifi ed Colonial Revival or Art Deco style. the residents lost their houses to foreclo- become an historic district, the seventh Intended for lower-middle-class families, sure, and in 1966 the original covenants in that borough. The Landmarks Preser- the houses were arranged to foster a strong imposing design restrictions expired. Many vation Commission held a public hearing sense of community on the principle that homeowners built fences into the common April 17, a preliminary step to designation. the open space, so unusual for that time, gardens, altered facades, constructed decks It has not been an easy journey. more than compensated for the small, if and added driveways. Built between 1924 and 1928, Sunny- solidly constructed, brick houses. Lewis For a time it seemed that this unusual side Gardens was one of the earliest fully Mumford, the infl uential writer and critic ensemble would be lost, but two factors realized examples in the United States of of planning and the author in 1922 of “The saved it. First, in 1974 the Department of the ideals of the British Garden City Study of Utopias,” advised on the planning City Planning made Sunnyside Gardens movement and was the fi rst development of Sunnyside and for ten years lived there a Special Planned Community Preserva- created to express the ideas of the Re- with his family. tion District. This zoning provision was gional Planning Association of America. After such hopeful beginnings, history designed to protect the open spaces by The 77-acre community consists of rows was not kind to Sunnyside Gardens. During requiring permits for alterations. Second, of small town houses and nine four- to the Great Depression nearly two-thirds of some residents formed the Sunnyside six-story apartment buildings, a total of more than 600 buildings, arranged around landscaped courtyards within the street grid of Queens. Its plan incorporates generous open and common spaces. The architects—Clarence Stein, Henry Wright and Frederick Ackerman—combined traditional elements with understated modernism, producing buildings in a sim- HISTORIC DISTRICTS COUNCIL Many houses, as the one above, evoke the British Gar- den City movement of the 1920’s. Right, map showing boundaries and buildings of the proposed district. Historic Districts Council District Lines ~ Spring 2007 ~ page 2 because he was so prescient then. Our theme—that historic preservation is envi- ronmentally friendly—was demonstrated by his address and by the panel discus- sions, which emphasized that keeping our existing built environment in use is central to preserving our natural resources. This continued a theme from last year’s conference, when our panels on “Race, Place, Money and Art” showed that historic preservation could work hand in hand with affordable housing and com- munity development. Overall, both these conferences point to the same conclusion: historic preservation is a key element in “smart growth.” If we are to plan properly for our urban, suburban and rural environ- ments, we must include the preservation, restoration and reuse of our existing built environment. This will lead inevitably to a “happy, healthy and wise” future. In February we held a reception and auction for a very important cause at the HISTORIC DISTRICTS COUNCIL Manhattan home of Historic Districts Low-rise buildings line verdant courtyards in the 600-building neighborhood of the aptly named Sun- Council adviser Joseph Pell Lombardi. nyside Gardens, being considered for designation as an historic district by the Landmarks Preservation The funds raised went to a new HDC Commission. Its advocates will receive a Grassroots Preservation Award from HDC in May. Foundation and convinced several courts compliance sufficient to protect them. to protect the original design. For that reason, in 2003 some of the resi- But the special zoning had not been dents formed a new group, the Sunnyside written to preserve design elements, which Gardens Preservation Alliance, with the remained unprotected. Nor was voluntary specific goal of having the neighborhood landmark-designated. The effort has been a rocky one. As DISTRICT historian and television star Barry Lewis, the Historic Districts Council’s 2005 Land- LINES marks Lion, commented for New York news and views of the Newsday in 2003, “Almost everyone agrees historic districts council that [Sunnyside Gardens is] a special place, but when regulations are proposed to limit editor ~ Penelope Bareau what people can do with their property, art and production ~ Moom Luu there has always been a fight.” TWIG editorial consultant ~ Jack Taylor LPC is expected to decide on the David Goldfarb contributors ~ Simeon Bankoff, Penelope Bareau, designation in May. HDC feels that just David Goldfarb, Jeffrey A. Kroessler Frampton Tolbert, Nadezhda Williams getting a hearing warrants an award, and it staff ~ Simeon Bankoff, Executive Director will present one to the Sunnyside Gardens project aimed at mobilizing “preservation Frampton Tolbert, Assistant Director Preservation Alliance at its annual Grass- voters.” Our pilot project focused on a Lauren Belfer, Nadezhda Williams, Preservation Associates roots Preservation Awards ceremony on special City Council election in Brooklyn. May 10. (See box on page 8.) Although we take no position regarding no part of this periodical may be candidates, we worked with community reproduced without the consent of the historic districts council. preservation groups to hold candidate PRESIDENT ’ S C O L UM N forums and to educate citizens to ask the the historic districts council is the citywide advocate for new york’s designated historic right questions. Later in 2007 and in 2009 districts and for neighborhoods and we will expand the project across the city. individual buildings that merit preservation. In March the Historic Districts Council’s In my humble (and biased) opinion this the council is dedicated to protecting the integrity of the new york city landmarks law annual Preservation Conference “recy- project enhances HDC’s role as the fore- and to furthering the preservation ethic. cled” keynote speaker Donovan Rypkema most grassroots preservation organization from our first conference 13 years ago in the city. When organizing for more city Historic Districts Council District Lines ~ Spring 2007 ~ page 3 funds for the Landmarks Preservation tion works best when it is able to bring Even though she represented only part of Commission, for better-qualified com- in new blood and does not become iden- the latter two neighborhoods, Council- missioners and for legislation to better tified with a single individual or small member Clarke was a strong advocate for protect landmarks and potential land- group of people. As HDC’s board rota- their designation. Their progress was due marks, no group reaches deeper into the tion policy begins to take effect, I hope in no small part to her support. city’s neighborhoods and communities to we will see the positive impact of these Beginning shortly before the No- obtain support than HDC does. principles. Our longest-serving members vember election, when it became clear This is my last President’s Column, as will continue to provide guidance as new Ms. Clarke’s seat would be vacant, HDC HDC’s board will elect a new president at directors and advisers join us. Hopefully reached out to its neighborhood part- its annual meeting in June. I have truly en- our many friends and supporters will step ners to mobilize a coalition focused on joyed my tenure as president and feel that forward to join our policy-making board. preservation and development issues. the organization has made great strides. I With your help and support we will con- Together with the Beverly Square West look forward to watching as HDC strives tinue to grow. Association, Caton Park Neighborhood to live up to the goals it has set for itself in Thank you for that support. I look Association, Ditmas Park Association, its recent strategic plan. forward to seeing you at future events. Ditmas Park West Neighborhood Associ- I believe that a volunteer organiza- —David Goldfarb ation, Fiske Terrace Association, Flatbush Development Corporation, Lefferts Manor Association, Midwood Park Home- HDC Inaugurates Program to eDuCate owners Association, Prospect Park South Association and West Midwood Com- eleCteDs Before tHey take office munity Association, HDC organized the Coalition of Concerned Preservation “Only when Our pOlItIcal analysIs is the 40th Council District in Brooklyn in Voters in the 40th District and prepared as good as our paint analysis can we pro- November 2006, when Councilmember a questionnaire addressing landmarks, tect our pediments from politics.” That Yvette Clarke, who had represented the zoning, building-code and public-involve- conclusion was reached by the Historic district, was elected to Congress. ment issues both general and specific to Districts Council’s chair emeritus An- The 40th District in central Brook- the district. It was then given to all the thony C. Wood, writing in District Lines lyn encompasses at least some of the candidates to answer. Sample questions in 1992 when preservationists were still designated historic districts of Ditmas were, “Would you support increasing smarting from the City Council’s rejection Park, Albemarle-Kenmore Terraces, City Council funding