The street signs for Ridgewood’s third, and largest, historical district were unveiled on Friday, Nov. 4, at the intersection of 70th Avenue and Fresh Pond Road.
On hand to celebrate the event was Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, Councilman Antonio Reynoso, members of Community Board 5 (CB 5), Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) Chair Meenakshi Srinivasan, New York Landmarks Preservation Foundation Chair Christina Davis, Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association (RPOCA) President Paul Kerzner, Executive Director of the Ridgewood Local Development Corporation (RLDC) Ted Renz, and students from P.S. 88, who led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance and a rendition of “God Bless America.”
The newly minted Ridgewood Central Historic District protects 990 homes, most of which were constructed between 1906 and World War I by German-Americans and German immigrants. These buildings now join the 36 buildings in the Stockholm Street Historic District, 96 buildings in the Ridgewood North Historic District, and the 207 buildings in the Ridgewood South Historic District.
“This particular landmarking represents over 900 — almost 1,000 — buildings that will be preserved forever,” Crowley said. “The state recognizes over 3,000 in Ridgewood and although we have been able to do so much preservation, we still have more to do.”
The LPC representatives touted Ridgewood’s diversity and the unique qualities of the century-old homes.
“Remarkably most of these buildings remain unchanged since their completion 100 years ago,” Srinivasan said. “It’s a real testament to all the property owners and home owners who have been looking after their house.”
The Ridgewood Central Historic District, as with all landmarked areas, are designated with brown street signs, instead of the traditional green street signs. In this new district, 84 new brown street sings have been added to the neighborhood.
Although nearly a third of the 2,982 Ridgewood buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places have been landmarked by the city, the RPOCA, civic leaders and local elected officials would like to see the remaining housing stock receive landmark status.
