Christ Church and castle-inspired 51st Calvary Armory designated. On August 10, 2010, Landmarks voted unanimously to designate the Headquarters Troop of the 51st Cavalry Brigade Armory and the Christ Church complex in Staten Island as two individual City landmarks. The Armory is located at 321 Manor Road in Castleton Corners, and Christ Church is located at 74 Franklin Avenue in New Brighton. Landmarks held public hearings on both structures in August 2009. 6 CityLand 126 (Sept. 15, 2009).

The Headquarters Troop Armory dates to 1926 and retains its historic function as a National Guard installation. The firm of Werner & Windolph designed the red brick-faced building to resemble a medieval castle with three-story towers, corner turrets, and crenellated parapets. This building is unique among the City’s armories because the National Guard sited it on a large grassy parcel in a suburban area. Landmarks only included the western portion of the armory’s expansive campus in the designation in order to permit unregulated use by the National Guard. Former Council Member Kenneth Mitchell and the State Division of Military and Naval Affairs supported designation at the August 2009 hearing. (read more…)

Commissioners hear testimony on Armory building, two churches, and several residences within the borough. On August 11, 2009, Landmarks held hearings for nine potential City landmarks on Staten Island. Chair Robert B. Tierney said the hearings were part of Landmarks ongoing effort to preserve the borough’s 19th century heritage. Council Member Kenneth Mitchell, whose district includes all the buildings, said all nine properties are important to Staten Island’s history and deserve designation.

Landmarks first considered 327 Westervelt Avenue, a shingle-style residence built around 1887 in the New Brighton neighborhood. The building features a three-story turret and is believed to have been designed by Edward Alfred Sargent. The property’s co-owner supported designation and described the restoration work he and his partner had performed on the building, which he said was likely “slated for the wrecking ball.” A representative of the North Shore Waterfront Conservancy said the building was “a rusty nail away from falling down” before the current owners purchased the property, calling it one of Staten Island’s “genuine treasures.” (read more…)