South Side of Bay Ridge Parkway in Brooklyn. Image Credit: LPC.

The 100-year-old block stands out in the neighborhood for its high architectural quality and aesthetic consistency. On June 25, 2019, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to designate Bay Ridge’s first historic district, “Bay Ridge Parkway – Doctor’s Row.” The new historic district is comprised of 54 two-story and basement rowhouses located on a prominent 100-foot wide, tree-lined block along Bay Ridge Parkway between 4^th and 5^th Avenues in Brooklyn. The rowhouses were all constructed between 1906 and 1913 and designed by two architects in the Renaissance Revival style, some in combination with Colonial Revival elements. The block earned its name as Doctor’s Row for the concentration of medical professionals who have lived and worked there starting in the mid-20^th century. Landmarks calendared the proposal on March 26, 2019, and held a public hearing on May 14, 2019.

Building envelope comparison: R2 (left) to R2X (right). Image Credit: CPC.

The proposed rezoning would allow larger single-family homes than current zoning permits and would bring many overbuilt homes in the area into zoning compliance. On June 19, 2019, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing on a proposed rezoning of two areas of Kew Gardens Hills in Queens. The application was brought by Queens Community Board 8 to rezone approximately 378 lots across 16 blocks from the existing residential R2 zoning to residential R2X zoning. The areas proposed for rezoning are both located northeast of the Kew Gardens Interchange generally bounded by 72^nd Avenue to the north, Union Turnpike to the south, Park Drive East to the west, and Main Street to the east.  Queens Community Board 8 brought the application on behalf of Kew Gardens Hills residents. The applicant’s attorney Jay Goldstein presented the application.

Superstorm Sandy. Image Credit: NASA/Wikimedia Commons

Homeowner claimed benefits under disaster recovery program implemented after Super Storm Sandy. In November 2013, Brooklyn attorney Christopher McCollum applied for benefits under the Build It Back program established by the City following Super Storm Sandy. McCollum claimed that his home sustained damage to its windows, backyard, roof, chimney, and façade during Super Storm Sandy.

Rendering of the proposed building at 581-583 Belmont Avenue in Brooklyn. Image Credit: Kenneth Church/CPC.

All three proposed buildings would come with amenities for residents including outdoor areas and laundry rooms. On June 19, 2019, the City Planning Commission held a public hearing on an application to convert three City-owned properties located in the East New York neighborhood of Brooklyn to new affordable housing buildings. All three properties are currently vacant. The three proposed buildings would result in 41 affordable units and one superintendent’s unit.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. Image Credit: NYC LPC

The designation of the six historic sites received strong public support. On June 18, 2019, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to designate five buildings in Manhattan and one building in Staten Island as individual landmarks. The buildings – the Gay Activists Alliance Firehouse, the Women’s Liberation Center, Caffe Cino, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center, the James Baldwin Residence and the Audre Lorde Residence – all reflected pieces of New York City’s LGBT civil rights history. The designations come as New York City celebrates Pride Month and the 50^th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. For CityLand’s prior coverage of these six buildings, click here.

Rowhouses along 50th Street in Sunset Park 50th Street Historic District. Image Credit: LPC.

The four historic districts contain the most cohesive intact concentrations of high-quality architecture in Sunset Park, representing its primary periods of development. On June 18, 2019, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted unanimously to designate four areas of Sunset Park, Brooklyn as historic districts: Sunset Park North, Sunset Park South, Central Sunset Park, and Sunset Park 50^th Street. Sunset Park North, South, and Central Sunset Park Historic Districts are areas where coherent historic streetscapes continue across several blocks and together create a strong sense of place. The Sunset Park 50^thStreet historic district contains two complete rows of browstones designed by Henry Spicer and Thomas Bennet and is the most consistent block in Sunset Park. The district boundaries were determined following extensive analysis of over 4,000 buildings between 40^th and 60^th Streets and 4^th and 7^th Avenues. Landmarks calendared the districts on January 22, 2019, and held a public hearing on May 7, 2019.