City Council Approves Skyscraper Historic District

By on February 1, 2012 10:54 pm in Architecture, Government, Landmark Preservation

Today the City Council approved the Borough Hall Skyscraper Historic District by a vote of 46-1, with two abstentions.

The Brooklyn Paper: Preservationists hailed the city for protecting a slew of Romanesque Revival and Beaux-Arts structures, including the tiered co-op 75 Livingston St., which housed some of the designation’s most vocal opponents.

“We’re thrilled,” said Judy Stanton, executive director of the Brooklyn Heights Association, the powerful community group that helped push for the district. “The opposition exaggerated the negatives. This is going to be good for Brooklyn as a whole and very good for Downtown and Court Street.”

According to the Brooklyn Paper story, Council Members Steve Levin and Brad Lander, both of whom voted for the designation, received assurances that proposed changes to buildings within the district would be given expedited consideration by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and that the LPC will “be flexible” with requests from residents of 75 Livingston.

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  • stuart

    This is a good thing. It is more about the future than the past. In a way it is an affirmation that the area is on an uphill course. I expect that the storefronts along Court Street will become more attractive and welcoming and am glad to know that the beautiful facades of the grand old century-old commercial buildings will not be stripped or disfigured.
    What is the downside to that?