| Neighborhood
at risk:
Crown Heights North, Phase 2!
In the 1700’s the area known today as Crown Heights North
in Brooklyn was part of a Lefferts family farm. The Lefferts began
selling the land in the 1850’s, and the area was developed
in the late 19th century, following the opening of the Brooklyn
Bridge. At this time, the area was populated with upper middle class
homeowners, living in rural frame dwellings and rowhouses, which
is the predominant housing type existing today. These rowhouses
still maintain much of their historic detailing, which stands as
a reminder of the wealth of the original inhabitants.
In addition to the rowhouses of Crown Heights,
the area also has a number of free standing mansions, apartment
houses, tenement buildings, and even a couple of early frame dwellings
exist today. The neighborhood also contains samples of works by
renowned architects and firms such as Montrose Morris and J.C. Cady
& Co, and the architectural styles vary from neo-Grec and Italianate
to Romanesque Revival, neo-Renaissance, and Queen Anne styles.
Crown Heights North is also notable for its wealth
of architecturally significant churches, including the First Church
of Christ Scientist built in 1909 and designed by Henry Ives Cobb,
architect for the Fisheries Building of the World’s Columbian
Exposition.
Crown Heights North is fortunate to have a very
active neighborhood group, the Crown Heights North Association,
which for many years has been tirelessly advocating for the designation
of the neighborhood. Additionally, they have obtained strong political
support from their community board and council members who recognize
the significance of this historic neighborhood.
In 1978, the Landmarks Preservation Commission
undertook a survey of this neighborhood roughly covering the area
north of Eastern Parkway to Pacific Street; east to Albany Avenue
and West to Grant Square. The survey was completed soon after it
was initiated, but the designation proceedings languished until
local residents formed the Crown Heights North Association. The
CHNA educated homeowners, held numerous public meetings and launched
a campaign for designation of the neighborhood. In June of 2006
the LPC calendared a portion of the neighborhood for a designation
hearing. While HDC is thrilled that the LPC has calendared part
of the neighborhood we urge the Commission to calendar the rest
of the survey area before its architecture is permanently erased.
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