Demystifying Landmarks, Tuesday 4/29

A friend at the Brooklyn Historical Society just shared news of this upcoming event. One week from today, you can attend "Demystifying Landmarks: A Panel Discussion at Brooklyn Historical Society." It's a topic that comes up often in our own Cobble Hill historic district so why not brush up on the ins and outs of the zoning designation that characterizes so much of Brownstone Brooklyn.

Tue, Apr 29, 6:30pm
$5/Free for BHS Members
Reserve tickets>>
You own a brownstone or live in a landmarked district, but what happens when you want to make a repair or change? Learn about what the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission does, what your neighborhood association can do, the research resources Brooklyn Historical Society can provide, and your neighbors’ experiences. Panelists include Tom van den Bout, architect and former Brooklyn Heights Association President, William Neeley, Jr., Deputy Director of Preservation at NYC Landmarks, Elizabeth Call, Head of Reference and User Services at BHS, as well Prospect Heights homeowner Leslie Feder and a local building manager. This panel will give attendees practical tips on how to navigate a construction or renovation project through the Landmarks approval process.

Self guided walking tour of Cobble Hill treasures

The folks over at Curbed have published a small walking tour itinerary of some architecturally notable buildings in Cobble Hill. In this sunny weather, why not take a stroll through our historic district with an eye on these 9 noteworthy buildings.

http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2014/01/31/take_a_walking_tour_of_nine_mustsee_buildings_in_cobble_hill.php

Brownstone Blues: Update

Last week we mentioned the sidewalk construction that got neighbors wondering what would happen to the historic brownstone slates in the ground. Thanks to Catherine Zinnel at Councilman Brad Lander's office, we are happy to announce the Department of Transportation confirmed...

National Grid is required to replace the sidewalk in kind. This means that National Grid will lay down new bluestones (as opposed to filling them in with concrete). DOT's Highway Inspection & Quality Assurance Office (HIQA), which inspects sidewalks, is also going to visit this location.

We are very happy to know the bluestone sidewalks of Cobble Hill will be replaced and Henry Street's visual character will be returned.

Cobble Hill History Walking Tour Announced

Cobble Hill History Walking Tour Announced
Sunday June 9th

2PM TO 4PM

Join Francis Morrone, director of the CHA Cobble Hill History Project, on a walking tour of Cobble Hill history and architecture. This year’s tour will focus on the landmarks and history of the southern Cobble Hill. So, even if you have been on other Cobble Hill History Tours, you won’t want to miss this one! Travel + Leisure magazine named Francis as one of the 13 best tour guides in the world.The roughly two-hour walk begins at Clinton and Kane Streets in front of Christ Church.

$10 for CHA members and $20 for non-members
Tour Limited to 30 Participants
Please RSVP: CobbleHillAssociation@gmail.com

Upcoming: Churches of Cobble Hill Tour

The experts at the Municipal Art Society have marked another Cobble Hill History Tour on their upcoming calendar. While this one is different from the past CHA one led by our local historian Francis Morrone, it nonetheless sounds like an intriguing event.

The Churches of Cobble Hill: The Here, the Now, the Long Ago and the Forgotten 

Many houses of worship in Cobble Hill have undergone metamorphoses over the years. In this part of what was once known as “the City of Churches,” some houses of worship remain functioning while others remain only in form. Still more have disappeared altogether or been forgotten; some have left behind an architectural fragment. This tour with guide Mary Ann DiNapoli explores churches that are or once were in this picturesque landmarked district. Those who have been on this tour before will learn of a devastating turn of events that has occurred at one of the tour's destinations since this tour was last given. Cost: $20 / $15 Municipal Arts Society Members.

Notes: Please purchase tickets online or call (212) 935-2075, Monday-Friday 9-5.
Meeting locations are provided after tickets are purchased. All tours proceed rain or shine

Cobble Hill Additions

Although nearly every lot in Cobble Hill is developed, the neighborhood does have a few empty spaces. However, new plans have arisen to potentially fill in a corner parking lot at Strong Place and Kane Street with appropriately scaled and historically contextual residential development.

Such a project in the Cobble Hill Historic Distrioct must first get approval by the Community Board, Landmarks Preservation Committee, and the Department of Buildings, but in this preliminary stage both Curbed and Brownstoner have entries about the potential construction, including renderings and floor plans.

Below is a street view of what it will be replacing.

NOTE: This entry was updated to point out no approvals by the CB, LPC, or DOB have yet been given.

Cobble Hill's anniversary

Postings will be less frequent during this holiday weekend, so instead fulfill your intrigue for neighborhood info with a throwback to the Brooklyn Eagle's December 30th article recapping Cobble Hill's 42 anniversary as a historic district... what's kept its layout and look so desirable for all these years.

Illustration courtesy of Brooklyn Historical Society

On Dec. 30, 1969, one of Brooklyn’s most desirable residential neighborhoods was designated an historical district. It is a community of modest row houses, handsome churches and some historically important model tenements developed primarily during the mid-19th century. It retains the character of that period to a surprising degree....

Carroll Gardens rezoning hearing: June 25

The Department of City Planning is commendably moving ahead with a comprehensive rezoning of Carroll Gardens and the Columbia Street District that will preserve the low-rise character of the neighborhoods to the south and west of Cobble Hill. This is excellent news. The matter is scheduled for consideration by the CB6 Land Use Committee on Thursday, June 25. We have only one objection to the plan: we don't think Henry and Clinton Streets immediately south of Degraw should be zoned R6A.

Why does it matter? The Cobble Hill Historic District's southern edge is Degraw Street. R6A zoning allows for heights up to seventy feet. The Historic District has a fifty-foot height limit. We think the zoning of the blocks of Henry and Clinton immediately south of Degraw should not rise so abruptly. City Planning has said that many of the homes on those streets are already quite tall. Even so, we don't want to encourage more tall buildings so close to the Historic District. We hope that community members will attend the meeting and reiterate this point to the committee.

WHAT: CB6 Land Use Committee meeting on rezoning
WHEN: LICH, Conference Rooms A and B, 339 Hicks Street
WHEN: Thursday, June 6, 2009 at 6 p.m.