By Adam Pincus
Those in favor of the proposal cited the need to protect the neighborhood from illegal curb cuts and unusual dormers.Opponents of the plan said the additional bureaucracy would be a burden on homeowners in a neighborhood that is special not for the buildings but for the people.Marsha Butler was outraged when a Gardens neighbor built a controversial dormer through his slate roof on 47th Street after obtaining permits.”I saw that the authorities we have now have no teeth,” she said.John Ward moved to the Gardens 17 years ago and spoke against the landmarking. He said the architecture of the neighborhood was not particularly striking.”It is not the buildings, it is the people, the gardens and the community,” he said that made the area special to him. About 200 people packed a public hearing Jan. 17 at the Sunnyside Community Services, 43-31 39th St., leaving many residents standing in the back and turning a handful away after the capacity was reached.They came to hear from representatives from city agencies involved with regulating the buildings in the Gardens and to express their views. A slight majority said they were in favor of the proposal as they gave their personal statements.The city Landmarks Preservation Commission is considering a proposal to create a historic district for approximately 600 buildings on the tree-lined streets filled with mostly two-story brick homes built between 1924 and 1928. Most of the area is in a special planned community preservation district, designated in 1974, which was intended to severely restrict alterations and has prevented any demolitions.The new proposal also includes 472 units in the Phipps Garden Apartments, opened in 1931 and 1936, which were not included in the 1974 preservation district.The passions were reflected in investigations and visual aids developed by residents.Architect Laura Heim and her husband Jeffrey Kroessler, both passionate advocates for landmarking, created images of what a block could look like under the current regulations in zoning and special preservation district.The color photographs showed a number of red brick homes on 46th Street converted from a uniform brick to a hodgepodge of vinyl siding, stone work and gaudy beach home colors.Michael Meola, who built a dormer on his home, conducted his own study of the hundreds of buildings in the area, concluding that only a minority of them had the traditional-style window.The city sought to minimize the impact of landmarking.Sarah Carroll, the director of preservation for the Landmarks Preservation Commission, said “we regulate, we don't compel.” She said her agency writes about 9,000 permits each year on the 23,000 buildings regulated. Silberman said the commission had three full-time staff working on enforcement, which is driven by complaints received.Some remained unconvinced.”The original intent of Sunnyside Gardens was for working families,” said Michael O'Sullivan, as he left the meeting. “Do they get an opportunity to vote?” he asked rhetorically as he left the meeting.Reach reporter Adam Pincus by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.
