Four Turrets and a Staten Island community anchor await its fate .

Many generations of Staten Islanders have requested that this 1890 Chateau-inspired former hospital be preserved for future generations. Yet it has never been given a public hearing by NYC Landmarks Commission.

THIS Place Matters to many. Please visit Placematters ,

a project of Citylore and the Municipal Arts Society and Nominate the S.I. Castle, S.R. Smith Infirmary. http://www.placematters.net/nominate

Public disclosure is urged by Councilwoman Debi Rose, the Coalition to Save the SI Castle and Community Board #1. The recent June 2011 building condition report conducted by NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) regarding the S.R. Infirmary, a.k.a. the Castle has yet to be released despite promises made by both DOB and Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).  An  Emergency demolition order has been filed by DOB and public dollars in the amount of  $385,000 has been announced for demolished, as stated by DOB and HPD officials. No date for demolished has been announced.

Discussions are currently underway to stabilize or preserve a portion of the structure. NYC Landmarks Commission has refused  to hold even one public hearing on the building.

The Presidents of the five New York City Chapters of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) have voiced their support for the landmarking and adaptive re-use of the former Samuel Russell Smith Infirmary, a.k.a. S Castle.

About a year ago, NYC Landmarks responded to a request to Landmark the ‘Castle’.

They state that “A careful review of the current condition and architectural
integrity of the property found it to be in a state of advanced
deterioration and therefore no longer viable for consideration as a New York
City individual landmark. The property will not be recommended to the full
Commission for further consideration as a New York City landmark.”

This was provided as a response when no ‘forensic ‘ engineering report was conducted. The only report on record was a May 2009 report by the FDNY and DOB with generalities regarding the danger of the site and need to secure it. The former hospital has never had a public hearing despite numerous requests since the hospital was vacated in 1979.  Supporters to Save the S.I. Castle urged landmarking at two public hearings  during the “Staten Island landmark Day’ during public hearing sessions in August 2009 and 2010.

Contact: NYC Landmarks Commission to urge that they “calendar” the S.R. Smith Infirmary, which will provide a postponement for any demolition and allow this archiectural gem to finally get a public hearing.

Email or Fax Landmarks Commissioner, Robert Tierney at rtierney@lpc.nyc.gov or Fax to 212-669-3872. For more information on the Landmarking process and updates visit NYC Landmarks website.

NYC Representative of Building (DOB) stated publicly at a Community Board #1 public presentation, Nov 8, 2011, that they wanted to Demo the ‘Castle’ but did not present the report showing the June 2011 inspection.

The representative stated that he would send it over the next day to both CB#1 and Councilwoman Debi Rose’s office. Also that it was available to the public and that he never received an official request prior to this meeting.

OVER a week later, DOB Representative stated that they NEVER stated that and NOW need to check with legal!?

I know what I heard. The Staten Island Advance, Community Board members and the Councilwoman also heard the same thing.

Aren’t THEY using OUR Public Dollars?? Shouldn’t we be entitled to this report?

Shouldn’t we have a say in how it should be spent?

There is a need for a full review of this process, DOB procedure and any demolition action must be halted.

A referee of the court was assigned to the property and two lien holders remain, what is the update on the disposition of this property?

Why demo now, and add more liens to the property, with OUR  public dollars spent?

How does the Public Benefit by Demolition??

Join the Rally Tomorrow 10 a.m. to Noon- S46 to Rally Tomorrow at 101 Castleton Avenue/Cebra. Post your support below please. Call your Mayor 311 and City Council member Rose at  718-556-7370 , Borough Hall…

THE VILLA:

We will also have a second group that will March from the Villa- owned by Richmond Unviersity Hospital , at 10 a.m. to the ‘Castle’. The Villa has been under consideration for landmarking since 1966 and has had thre public heaings, yet not protected . It is located at Castleton and Bard Avenues.

Let’s Show that the Majority of Staten Islanders wants the ‘Castle’ saved!

Post your comments of support for the Castle:

• Share your memory of the hospital when it was open- maybe a family member worked there
• Were you born in the newer building or the Castle? Complex closed in 1979
• Share thoughts on WHY  should be saved for future generations!
• State your profession, so if you are a teacher, lawyer, realtor, wife, father, mother, etc.
• List all the members of your family to show support
• Share a comment to help voice your concerns.

NYC Building Director  of Community Affairs, Donald Ranshte, didn’t present the written report during his Community Board 1 , presentation on Nov. 9, 2011. He stated there was no official request, at least of  his knowledge, and that it would be immediately given to the Councilwoman and CB#1. As of friday, No 11, 2011, no report was provided.

These are questionable circumstances, especially when CB#1, Preservation League of S.I. and the Councilwoman have made several attempts to get the June report. This questionable behavior is not surprising, when the property has a tangled web of tax liens and a long history of fraud, with the failed condo development in the 1990s.

NYC Landmarks has refused to  hold a hearing to even ‘consider’  landmarking the building or the site, despite numerous attempts from the early 1980s when the hospital vacated the site to recent 2010-11 testimony at the S.I. Landmarks day  hearings. It has been identified as historically significant by the Historic District Council and NY Landmarks Conservancy. It is also eligible to be a NY State historic register site, but designation has been halted, since, owner support is required. The iconic building has never received due process, yet the Landmarks law was created to allow for hearings to at least discuss historic significance. Despite the fact that the castle only takes up a small portion of the 6 acre site, the building could be landmarked or simply , not demolished, and still offers many development options.

In the recent S.I. Advance article dated Nov 11, 2011, it was stated that, “The demolition timetable means time is short, but Buildings did provide preservationists with one possible glimmer of hope at the Wednesday meeting. Said spokesman Ranshte: “An emergency declaration can be revised and amended.”

Call Councilwoman Debi Rose at 718-556-7370 and Mayor Bloomberg at 311 to request NYC Buildings provide alternative plans to salvage the historic building.

With demo, our tax dollars will be spent and another lien will be placed on the property. This is not any solution and the 30 million plus in tax liens will continue to accumulate. There is nothing in place to make the current lien holders  accountable for the deoriation of the property.

Why spend money on demolition, when the same funds could go towards ‘shoring up the site’. One option that has been proposed by local elected officials, is to use  ‘eminent domain’ to take ownership and allow the site to be developed with an open biding process. It is unlikely that NYC will ever recoup the existing tax liens, but the longer it sits, the longer no real estate taxes are collected and the community is left with only a vacant lot.

Call: 718-816-2000 Borough hall to ask to allow for ‘shoring’ up the site and for the city to resolve this issue with the preservation of an iconic building.

This blog is the personal opinion of Angela D’aiuto, Co-Chair of the Save the SI Castle Committee and Board member of Preservation League of S.I.

S.I. Castle, a Neo-medievial style former hospital

Join us Sunday, November 21st for only one hour….

Rally to Save the S.I. Castle

formerly S.I. Hospital – Smith’s Infirmary

Sunday, Nov. 21st

2 to 3 p.m.

Sponsored by Save the S.I. Castle Committee of the

Preservation League of Staten Island.
MEET UP: Across the street from the site at the Corner of Castleton Avenue and

Oxford Avenue and Cebra Ave- New Brighton, Staten Island, NY. In front of 100 Castleton Avenue.

This structure was built in 1890 and is the first voluntary hospital on Staten Island. It was vacated in 1979 and condos were planned for the site. Unfortunately, the condo development was never completed and thousands of dollars of tax liens accumulated. The site is managed by HPD and the disposition of the property will be decided in court.

The Save the S.I. Castle Committee is committed to the preservation of the Castle-like structure and the adaptive reuse of the 6 acre site in New Brighton. Members have worked with past and current elected officials to advocate for the preservation of the historic building. The entire site is 6 acres and offers opportunities for redevelopment, but it must include the reuse of this community landmark, a community anchor for three intersection communities of New Brighton, Tompkinsville and Silver Lake. The community must continue to be involved with future plans for this site. The Save the S.I. Castle Committee advocate a ‘multi-use’ approach for the redevelopment of the site. There is a need for housing, school and community services, all of which can be housed at the six acre site.

Four Turrets on Castleton Avenue, New Brighton

An Eclectic Saltbox Farmhouse in Port Richmond as featured in NY Times.

Sunday, October 17th from 1 to 5 p.m. Art at a Landmark- Tour the Landmark (Dutch) Reformed Church on S.I. and get a insider view of a private home featured in the NY times. The tour fee is $15 tour and begins at 1 p.m. The eclectic style of homeowner, John Foxell, include Buddhist artifacts, an assortment of stain glass windows, unique artwork and historic memorabilia. Also, tour the Landmark church and its unique 12 sided dome Sunday School building and historic cemetery. Meet at the church, 54 Port Richmond Ave at 1 p.m.

Enjoy a Free Dance Performance by Staten Island Ballet, Live Music, Poetry Readings and Art gallery. Dine in the Victorian Tea Room and purchase Heirloom Dutch Bulbs. from 1 to 5 p.m. at 54 Port Richmond Ave, 442-7393 for more info.

Neo-Medieval style building is known as the S.I. Castle, New Brighton, S.I..

Saturday- October 17th  from 1 to 3 p.m. and Sunday, October 24th from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The Staten Island Castle as a Community Anchor Tour: Enjoy a guided tour of the neighborhoods surrounding the former S.I. Hospital- S.I. Castle.

Learn the history of this community, in relation to the former Staten Island Hospital Site- a.k.a. SI Castle. Its past, present and future will be examined, as well as the architecture and economic development of the surrounding community. The guided tour is led by Angela D’Aiuto, Historian and Realtor.  The $10.00 tour fee will benefit the Save the SI Castle Committee to advocate for the preservation and adaptive re-use of the 120 year old structure.

Meet at the intersection of Cebra and Castleton Avenues; $10 tour fee. R.S.V.P. at (718) 877-7367 or email: info@sitreasure.com

Flags grace the beach at the Cedar Grove Beach Community.

Since 1910, a row of  beach bungalows have lined  the shorefront along New Dorp Beach. I was pleased to host the Preservation League of Staten Island’s tour with  Josh Jacob, Architect and historian.  This may have been the last chance to experience the bucolic  environment and hear first hand, the stories and history of the Cedar Grove Beach Community.

The 110 year old community has been nominated for NY State and National Register Landmarking, however, the property owner, NYC Parks must give its consent. NYC Parks has publicly stated that there is no historic significance and it is NYC policy that people cannot live on public land.  The NY State and National Register recommendation for landmarking  was determined by a division within NYS Parks Services, which has  a long history of landmarking a variety of structures throughout NY State. So what would New York look like without the grand historic mansions along the Long Island coast, the historic house museums such as the Conference House Park, our historic village, Richmondtown; the grand structures such as the state capital and the Brooklyn Bridge?

The Staten Island community has already lost another bungalow community in 2001, the Spanish Camp, associated with Catholic Aid Worker, Dorothy Day, who is also nominated for sainthood.  Many Staten Islanders remember that the NYC Landmark Commission decided to landmark a portion of the property, but only after the developer illegally demolished the bungalow community. The developer was fined and fraudulent documents allowed the bungalow community to be demolished. The Cedar Grove Beach Community is in fact the last bungalow community in NYC.So why is it not considered worthy by NYC Parks and the Mayor to landmark? Afterall, Staten Islander’s overwhelming supported him in his bid for re-election in 2009. NY State,  National or NYC landmarking would still allow for development or improvement to the site and only city landmarking protects against demolition.

And so, NYC Parks and Mayor Bloomberg plan to proceed with the demolition of the site, with no plans  or funding to make repairs to the shorefront, walkways or build any amenities for the public. They plan to utilize rent revenue , collected from the residents to demolish the community and create meet the community need for parkland, at a location, which is adjacent to miles and miles of beachfront and parks. Every elected official, accept for the Borough President of Staten Island, has publicly given their support for the preservation of the Cedar Grove Community, which generates $140,000 annually in rent for NYC Parks.

The Cedar Grove Beach Club house sits on a sprawling lawn.

Regardless of one’s political persuasion, there are many reasons to preserve this community. It should be as simple as: it is the last bungalow communtiy in NYC. Perhaps it just makes economic sense. The city needs the money. Why not let the renters continue to pay rent and make the beachfront more publicly accessible with signage. $140,000 in annual rent is needed revenue, at a time when every cent counts. Why not increase the rent collected or other uses on portions of the site? Yet, the Mayor of NY, an experienced businessman, rather cease collecting rent and use the funds collected over the years to demolish the bungalows. Is it that simple?

NYC Parks Commissioner Benepe,  has stated that  he plans to create a public waterfront because the community has asked for it. Yet, other city-owned waterfront property, such as , the Homeport, Cromwell Center and the West Brighton Marina, are not accessible to the public nor do they have sufficient funding to develop the site for recreational use.  In addition, the Mayor have allowed funds which were suppose to purchase and preserve a North Shore Greenbelt or Goodhue, to be ‘re-allocated’  to fund non-Staten Island projects, such as, Governor’s Island. To make matters worse, the Cromwell Recreation Center continues to sink, the ‘Field of Dreams’ at Mariner’s Marsh Park  remains a dream and the clean-up of the Bloomfield  brownfields will be postponed once again and again.

In 1958, city and state funds were used to purchase the existing Cedar Grove Beach Community to make way for a parkway which would have also destroyed today’s Miller Field and the shoreline. By utilizing the eminent domain , the legal condemnation of private land for public use,  the city to purchased the property from homeowners because it was deemed a ‘public benefit’. The proposed Robert Moses project was canceled by the early 1960s  but the property was already purchased, so it former residents were given the choice to now rent their former homes.

There were a mix of viewpoints expressed on the tour of the Cedar Grove community, but most agreed the bungalows should be preserved and other alternatives explored aside from eviction and demolition. Some Staten Islander feel that the use of eminent domain is always unconstitutional, since it allows for the loss of private property rights. Yet, this argument is held by some local politicians when it also comes to Landmarking a property, especially when it is against a property owners rights. One begs the question, is the loss of property rights always wrong- should everyone have the right to demolish their property? Would the Conference house which is a historic site and park, the Fredrick Law Olmstead Homestead or H.H. Richardson House exist today?

The issue of fairness to the community and the residents was another topic discussed amongst tour participants. Is it fair that original residents were forced to sell their property, and then told that they now had a choice to rent? Perhaps the residents should have been given the opportunity to buy back their bungalows or was it deemed too complicated , since state and city funds were used to impose the condemnation of the site?  Was the original purpose of condemning the land still valid for the proposed use of the site- parkland?  Is it fair that other Staten Islanders have not been given the opportunity to rent beachfront property and maybe a lottery process to rent a bungalow would be more fair. Maybe the rent collected could be increased, public access completely open to the public  bu hiring lifeguards for the beach and even rent a space for a restaurant or snack bar.

This bungalow has been features in tv and films.

Overall, Staten Islanders whom participated on the tour, reflect the concerns and comments in regard to the site. They all have one thing in common, preserve the last beach bungalow community in NYC. Let’s open up the dialogue and not accept that NYC Parks has a plan and its as simple as that. Tell mayor Bloomberg to preserve the community. mBloomberg@cityhall.nyc.gov and NYC Landmarks Commission to take action to landmark the site, which includes the clubhouse, common areas and approx. 38 bungalows.

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Cedar Grove Beach Community, New Dorp Beach Staten Island

Its the last of its kind in New York city, a bungalow beach community called the Cedar Grove Beach Club and yet it is scheduled to be demolished.  Situated along the East shore of Staten Island in New Dorp Beach, this community was seized by the City of New York  in the early 1960s for a failed parkway project. The original residents and many of their descendants have been renting them every since.This lease ends September 30, 2011. Despite community and elected official support to preserve it, NYC Parks plans to demolish it.

PLSI held  a guided tour on Sunday, Sept 26th at 4 pm. As a board member of the Preservation League of SI  I along with architect , Josh Jacobs, provided an opportunity for Staten Islanders to learn about the architectural,  beauty and community history of this site.

The Cedar Grove Beach Club has been nominated by its residents to be a State and National Historic District. It is in fact eligible for designation on the National Register, as a last surviving example of a beach communtiy in NYC.  NYC Parks Commissioner Benepe argues that the site has no historic value and plans to demolish it for a future park, along side the existing public beaches and parks. The vernacular style cottages and bungalows are from the 1908 to 1924, 38 cottages have survived a failed parkway plan by Robert Moses. Prior to the Great Depression, these types of vacation communities were common in NYC, especially in Staten Island.  This is the last one.

In 1958, the property was seized by the City of NY for a planned seaside parkway, one of many environmentally unfriendly, pro-automobile projects city planner Robert Moses is most known for. Other parkways such as one through Greenwich Village and the Staten Island Greenbelt were also proposed around this time, but they were halted by community residents. As a result, we have the Staten Island Greenbelt  and a man made hill, named Mount Moses, in tribute to the victory gained by many islanders involved with stopping an ill-conceived parkway project. In all fairness, Robert Moses, actually created more parkland and playgrounds in NYC than any other planner. His work mainly reflected a pro-automobile culture, like we have today. It laid the ground work for the highway and road infrastructure that exists today. Notable projects include: Grand Central parkway, Long Island Expressway, the Tri-borough Bridge Authority and the Verrazzano Bridge.

Help preserve the community for the enjoyment of all Staten Islanders. NYC Parks has no funds to build the proposed comfort stations, soccer fields or repair the shoreline of the Cedar grove Beach community, yet by demolishing the bungalows, they are ending the $140,000 annual revenue collected from the residents. The community is part of Staten Island’s history. Contact Mayor Bloomberg and tell him that the revenue collected by the current residents of the Cedar Grove Community should continue and the city cannot demolish this Staten Island treasure. The property can be made more public, than it is now and enjoyed with fair and honest discussion on this matter.  This is the opinion of  the blog author, Angela D’aiuto, please share your viewpoints here.

1908 Butler Manor House

Despite efforts to preserve it, the 1908 Butler Manor House, designed by Alfonso Lamb of the renown firm of Lamb and Rich, has been demolished. 

The NYC Landmarks Commission stated that the house did not deserve a public hearing, due to a lack of historic merit. This is a loss for the community. Many supporters feel that the Butler Manor House deserved a hearing, due to broad community support, architectural merit (designed by Lamb), cultural significance (a  rare surviving country style mansion facing the Raritan Bay)  and environmental significance ( adjacent to city and state parkland). Adaptive reuse plans for the mansion were presented to the past and present owner, but unfortunately, no interest was received. The previous owner has permits filed for three homes on the site, but it is unclear if the new owner will pursue this plan.

Until recently, the mansion housed the Staten Island Montessori school. The School has closed and many students and families will not have the opportunity to continue their education is this historic building  within a country-like setting. The Butler Manor BlueBelt, Mount Lorretto State Park and public waterfront borders this property.  It is a lost opportunity to preserve part of Staten Island’s history, a rare surviving country estate, which connects to natural areas, once part of the original 65 acre, Butler Manor Farm.

The Butler Manor Gatehouse at Hylan Blvd.

Help us Save the Gatehouse: Efforts to landmark and preserve the gatehouse, located on a nearby property is the current focus of civic and preservation groups. The historic postcard, from Mr. Elmer Butler, is provided with permission from the Tottenville Historical Society. This home appears on maps from 1908 and one of the original brick posts remains along Hylan Blvd. The original Butler Manor Farm was 65 acres, previously the property consists of approximately 100 acres, which included waterfront property along the Raritan Bay to Long Pond Park ,west of Hylan Blvd.

Tell NYC Landmarks to set a public hearing for the Butler Manor Gatehouse. with the loss of the main house, it would be irresponsible to not preserve the gatehouse. The gatehouse is over 100 years old and is part of the neighborhood’s character and history. Please Email Commissioner, Robert Tierney at rtierney@lpc.nyc.gov.

The Butler Manor Civic, Pleasant Plains-Prince’s Bay-Richmond Valley Civic, Tottenville Historical Society, Preservation League of Staten Island , along with former students and friends of the the S.I. Montessori school demonstrated their support for the preservation of this historic house. Thanks to everyone who sent letters of support and time from their busy schedules to show support in any way.

Handwritten note from Butler Manor Farm

The hearing included public testimony in support of all the properties, including several buildings which had been ‘heard’ in 1966, but not designated.  The Garner Mansion had its first hearing in 1966, a year after the Landmarks Law was passed in New York City. It has waited 44 years to get a third hearing. (Please see previous post for list of properties under consideration for Landmarking.) The public comment period is open for five of the properties for the next 30 days (until Sept. 6th) and the Garner Mansion for the next 45 days (Sept. 21st). Please send your support to rtierney@lpc.nyc.gov.

Staten Island Armory, Manor Road Castle

Two properties which were previously heard at the 2009 State Island Landmark’s Day last August, were finally designated. A total of nine buildings were heard last year and six designated in 2009 and 2010. The remaining two, the Staten Island Armory and Christ Church, were designated  official NYC Landmarks.

The Staten Island Amory or what many Staten Island refer to as the “Manor Road Castle”, was designated with unanimous support from the Commission. It is one of three Armories in NY State designed in the Normandy style.  The Armory was built on the former site of the Manor Farm and operated as the 51st Brigade Calvary division.  Today, it is an active National Guard, the Rainbow Division,  and its responsibilities include responding to many emergencies and disasters, i.e. 9/11.

I would like to thank the Westerleigh Improvement Society, members of the Preservation League of Staten Island , former Councilman Ken Mitchell and Congressman McMahon for their support. Also, special thanks to NY Times reporter Joe Berger, who did a wonderful story about the Staten Island Armory when it was under consideration for landmarking in September 2009 (Article).

At the Landmarks designation hearing today, one of the Landmarks Commissioners, stated, that they had attended a wedding at the Armory and was pleasantly surprised by its architectural beauty. The meeting room for the National Guard is a wood panel room which is not landmarked but well cared for by members of the National Guard and its veterans. The grand meeting hall is adorned with colorful stain glass windows, sabers and other historic artifacts. The small museum and the meeting hall are open to the public once or twice a year. With the new Landmark designation, the Preservation League , the Westerleigh Improvement Society and I are planning a guided tour of this beautiful castle.

The other castle- Staten Island Castle-Frost Memorial Tower

The Staten Island Armory, one of my favorite buildings on Staten Island has been preserved, now for the other castle, the “S.I. Castle” . We are still awaiting a building assessment from the Department of Housing Preservation and Development. The Committee to Save the S.I. Castle continues to send letters of support urging NYC Landmarks to schedule a public hearing for the “S.I. Castle” , the former SI Hospital, Frost Memorial Tower. Stay Tuned.

Newly Landmarked Christ Church is a Gothic treasure.

In addition, Christ Church, its meeting hall and rectory, located at 76 Franklin Avenue was designated a NYC landmark. This church designed in the Gothic style  with stone walls and wood beam interior.  The beautiful stain glass windows are attributed to Tiffany, the rectory is tastefully designed to complement the church. The entire complex is in the Gothic style. Walkways and cloisters connecting the buildings provide a beautiful intact complex amidst tress and grand homes along Franklin Avenue, New Brighton.

Please send a note to NYC Landmarks Commission and thank them for landmarking the S.I. Armory and Christ Church and recommend the landmarking of the S.I. Castle-Frost Memorial Tower , the Butler Manor House and the six properties heard today for Landmarking. Contact NYC Landmarks  Commissioner, Robert Tierney at rtierney@lpc.nyc.gov.

Garner Mansion was heard twice in 1966, but never landmarked.

Six historic structures on Staten Island will be considered for landmarking on Tuesday, August 10, 2010. It seems long over due, considering that this group of six buildings are among the oldest buildings on Staten Island. The buildings under consideration, include four surviving buildings from Historic Sandy Ground settled in the mid 1800s, a Dutch farmhouse from the late 1600s, a Saltbox style farmhouse from the mid 1800s, and a Second Empire style Mansion from the mid 1800s.

Two buildings, the Garner Mansion, owned by Richmond University Hospital and the Lakeman House, owned by Moravian Florist have been considered for landmarking in1966. The buildings have remained ” Calendared”, meaning under consideration for landmark and protected from demolition. The NYC Landmarks Commission never stated the reason for not making a decision for 44 years and is not bound to do so. The Garner Mansion, was almost considered for landmarking again in 2001, but for some strange reason the hearing was canceled abruptly without an official reason given. It was heard twice in 1966, one year after the NYC Landmark Commission was formed and the landmark law was put into place.

Considering that Richmond University has gone through two rounds of bankruptcy, formerly St. Vincent’s Hospital, it seems unlikely that they have plans, nor the funds to demolish the building which is presently used for administrative offices. It is also unlikely that the community would welcome expansion at the already congested site. The grand Second Empire style mansion is setback on a sprawling lawn at the intersection of Bard Avenue and Castleton Avenue. It is has a brownstone facade, rare on Staten Island and its prominent feature is a four-story tower gracing the entrance. There are many original details and the colonial revival addition at the rear of the mansion has many original architectural details as well.

However, NYC Landmarks tends not to landmark hospitals, for example Bayley Seton Hospital in Stapleton and the former SI Hospital a.k.a. S.I. Castle in New Brighton, have been nominated in the past, and never even given a public hearing. So will the Commission make a decision to landmark a historic building that is an example of adaptive reuse or continue to placate special interest groups? Considering that we, the taxpayer, has bailed out the current hospital with federal funds, it seems like the community should at least get a piece of its history and neighborhood character preserved? Is that to much to ask for?

The Lakeman House is from the late 1600s, a Dutch farmhouse presently owned by the Moravian Florist. They conducted an extensive restoration effort in 2001-2002 with architect and Preservationist , David Carnivale, an original founder of Richmondtown.  There was pressure from the public to landmark the building at that time, but it remained ‘calendared’ meaning it is under consideration for landmarking sometimes indefinitely, or just for 24 years. It was originally heard in 1966, but NYC Landmarks did not make a decision. For some reason they are allowed to do so.

The Lakeman house was built in 1683, but the land was deeded by the Governor of Andros to Lewis Lakeman in 1675. The field-stone facade and dormers are original features of the Dutch farmhouse, one of the oldest buildings existing on Staten Island today. A full restoration in 2001-02 removed modern additions and restored original features of this historic structure. It is an example of adaptive reuse and is part of Moravian Florist located at 2286 Richmond Road, New Dorp.

A surviving Saltbox style farmhouse is also under consideration for Landmarking. Built in 1868, it is believed to have been a stage coach stop along the way to the Port Richmond ferry landing to Bergen Point Ferry, NJ and to Manhattan, at Tompkinsville – Vanderbilt Landing.  This type of home was common throughout Staten Island, but  the majority have been demolished or altered beyond recognition. The landmarking of this home will enhance the historic significance of Port Richmond Village, only a block away from the NYC Landmarked Carnegie style, Port Richmond Library; the former P.S. 20  (now Parkside Senior Apartments) and the Captain Houseman house on Heberton Avenue, each located adjacent to Veteran’s Park.

Sandy Ground Cottages, Baymen cottages

Finally, four buildings from Historic Sandy Ground are under consideration for Landmarking also. Sandy Ground located in Rossville, Staten Island, is the oldest continuous inhabited community of free African-Americans in New York City.  Original settlers came from the South, mostly Maryland . They began settling in the area in the 1830s and 1840s to take advantage of Staten Island’s rich oyster beds and to escape restrictive legislation in their home state that prohibited them from owning their own sloops or captaining a sloop without a white navigator on board.

The A.M.E. Zion Church, built in 1897 is among the four buildings under consideration for landmarking and supported by both the congregration and the Sandy Ground Historical Society. The Reverend Issac Coleman and Rebecca Gray Coleman House, along with two “Baymen” cottages are also examples of early dwellings reminiscent of Staten Island’s rich oyster industry. They are the few survivors of the Sandy Ground community, which has been a victim of development and under appreciated by both the public and NYC Landmarks Commission for far too long.

The Rev. Coleman and Rebecca Gray Coleman House

Built 1987, AME Zion Church, Rossville.

Tell NYC Landmarks Commission to Landmark the six historic structures and that it is long overdue. Email or Fax Landmarks Commissioner, Robert Tierney at rtierney@lpc.nyc.gov or Fax to 212-669-3872. For more information on the Landmarking process and updates visit NYC Landmarks website.

Attend the Public hearing on Tuesday, August 10th from 9 a.m. to 11:30 to show your support for the landmarking. The hearing will take place at NYC Landmarks Commission, 1 Centre Street, 9th Floor. Fax or email your support letters if you cannot make the hearing. Also, the Preservation league of S.I. , Committee to Save the S.I. Castle and Butler Manor Civic Association request that you state the need to ‘calendar’ two additional buildings which need to be preserved. The Frost Memorial Tower-SI Castle and the Butler Manor House. For information see previous posts and the Landmarks Alert Page.  For more information contact Angela D’Aiuto, PLSI Board member and Chair of the Save the SI Castle Committee at info@SiTreasure.com.

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