Conservancy Testifies In Favor of Downtown Brooklyn Historic District
Court Street
Borough Hall 1905
Franklin Building
The Conservancy testified in favor of a new historic district in Downtown Brooklyn at a Public Hearing held by the Landmarks Preservation Commission on Dec. 14. Our statement was on behalf of both the Conservancy and the Brooklyn Heights Association. We partnered with BHA and the Municipal Arts Society to create a study of the area in 2006.
The study we sponsored shed light on the histories of the significant buildings concentrated in this area. The district takes in several blocks along Court Street from Montague Street to Livingston Street. Most of Brooklyn’s early tall office buildings were built in these several blocks adjacent to historic Boro Hall.
Spanning almost a century these structures stand testament to the distinct character of Brooklyn’s historic business district. They tell the story of the development of the Boro’s commercial core prior to, and after, consolidation into Greater NYC in 1898.
The hearing was controversial and several speakers spoke against the designation. Some stated the buildings were not significant enough, others said they feared Landmarks Commission regulations would make them commercially uncompetitive. Other groups and residents expressed strong support for the designation.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission closed the hearing and there is no date yet for a decision.
