Owners claim financial hardship. The full Council approved Landmarks’ designation of two Staten Island homes over the protest of the current owners. Landmarks had unanimously approved the designation of the 1850-built DeHart House in Tottenville at its May 16th meeting and later voted on June 13th to make the Mark W. Allen house, a 1920s Craftmans style bungalow in West New Brighton, an individual landmark. 3 CityLand 78 (June 15, 2006); 3 CityLand 96 (July 15, 2006).

Both owners opposed designation of their homes at the August 14th hearing before the City Council’s Subcommittee on Landmarks, Siting & Maritime Uses.

The owner of the Mark W. Allen House, Marie Busiello, alleged that her house was singled out for designation because Council Member Michael McMahon’s chief of staff lived next door and designation would stop her plan to sell the lot to a developer. (read more…)