Old Astoria Village

[Gleason]

Old Astoria Village (called ‘Two Coves’ by Goodwill Industries of obvious reasons) is the oldest and largest community without a shred of protection in the city. They tell us this is so because the community doesn't want it.

Some of its streets are mid-seventeenth century – it has homes and buildings dating back to the eighteenth century. Every year we loose a few 150 year old homes. Even eroded, it still has dozens of buildings worth saving. Most of its structure remains intact. It is a unique ante-bellum Long Island community just across the river from Gracie Mansion.

The point here, my dear friends, is that as long as Astoria treats its past like this, it will remain a laughing stock among some quarters of the city.

The other day, I noticed this listing:

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/126877-house-astoria-astoria

The background to the property was listed this morning.

http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2007/11/rosemont-builders-developers-delight.html

How do you feel about this, Astorians? Anyone ready to submit a landmarks application?

http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/downloads/pdf/forms/request_for_evaluation.pdf

Anyone ready to contact Historic Districts Council for interest?

http://www.hdc.org/

Or shall we tell everyone how much we love our community and how peachy things are? And these old rat traps should be developed for fine new housing – you know, something like those new Pistilli gems that dot our community.

Go ahead. Pick up the gauntlet and let us know your experiences.

Or just mutter  ‘how bad’ or ‘let George do it’ and move on?

megc, you post on OuterB about real estate: how about your insight? Any way to help?

[Astoria Luv]

Old Astoria Village (called ‘Two Coves’ by Goodwill Industries of obvious reasons) is the oldest and largest community without a shred of protection in the city. They tell us this is so because the community doesn't want it.

Some of its streets are mid-seventeenth century – it has homes and buildings dating back to the eighteenth century. Every year we loose a few 150 year old homes. Even eroded, it still has dozens of buildings worth saving. Most of its structure remains intact. It is a unique ante-bellum Long Island community just across the river from Gracie Mansion.

The point here, my dear friends, is that as long as Astoria treats its past like this, it will remain a laughing stock among some quarters of the city.

The other day, I noticed this listing:

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/126877-house-astoria-astoria

The background to the property was listed this morning.

http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2007/11/rosemont-builders-developers-delight.html

How do you feel about this, Astorians? Anyone ready to submit a landmarks application?

http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/downloads/pdf/forms/request_for_evaluation.pdf

Anyone ready to contact Historic Districts Council for interest?

http://www.hdc.org/

Or shall we tell everyone how much we love our community and how peachy things are? And these old rat traps should be developed for fine new housing – you know, something like those new Pistilli gems that dot our community.

Go ahead. Pick up the gauntlet and let us know your experiences.

Or just mutter  ‘how bad’ or ‘let George do it’ and move on?

megc, you post on OuterB about real estate: how about your insight? Any way to help?

Hey, that's cool.  Tell me somewhere I can assist.  What and where, in your opinion, Gleason, is the best and most effective and well run community organization that we can go to? 

I used to be involved in a civic organization in LIC/Dutch Kills area, but I found them to be a little bit isolationist and xenophobic for my likes so I left and worked with a different and more diverse group in the community, which consisted of common everyday business people, homeowners, renters and community leaders.  Unfortunately, we weren't well organized and eventually I went to college and fell out of touch.

Anyway, let us or me, know where we can help.  And good luck with this.

[lizluv43]

We should start an online petition and send all signatures in to HDC organization.  It is such a shame that we've lost so many homes in that area that were priceless homes and replaced by ugly buildings.

Sure, it's great that Astoria is a growing community but our history and landmarks shouldn't be destroyed to make room for more people.

[Astoria Luv]

Oh, and I still love this neigborhood; I wouldn't live here if I did not.  It doesn't mean that I think everything is "peachy" and that there are not issues that we, as a community, have to address.  However, I have been in group situations where I didn't necessarily agree with their position, and I reserve the right, to be able to evaluate each situation individually and decide whether or not I will participate.

[Gleason]

The on line thing sounds great!!!

Send emails to Historic Districts Council and demand they post it on their endangered community list (I understand they ignored previous requests)
http://www.hdc.org/neighborhoodatrisk.htm

Go ahead and fill in the LPC application and send it in. Again, again, and again.

Write letters to the Gazette.

Post on Queens Crap.

Speak up at the community board meeting during the 3 minute public time slots.

megc has that wonderful forum on OuterB which could do fantastic publicity.

Make copies of everything you do and say and SHARE IT WITH THE BOARD!!

[megc]

I'm working in Midtown today with very little extra time on my hands, but will check this out more fully when I have time tonight.  Gleason, thank you for the heads up.  I'm pretty sure this is something I can write about for OuterB.

Nice people at the HDC, at least from what I can tell from their blog.

And the LIC/DutchKills preservationists are kicking themselves regarding the Long Island City Savings Bank - although it's further south, I be they'd be more than happy to have people talk to them about preserving something else in Astoria.

[Simeon]

Hello;

I was alerted to this thread by a colleague. It's nice to see that there is interest in preserving what's left of Old Astoria Village. I just wanted to clear up one thing - HDC will be posting the area under our "neighborhoods at risk" shortly, and will be including on the page a link to the Long Island City Alliance - who made the request to us.
Also, while we would appreciate the attention of recieving an online petition - it would be more fruitful to send it to the Landmarks Preservation Commission (comments@lpc.nyc.gov). Please do send us a copy at hdc@hdc.org so we know what's going on.
Otherwise, Gleason's suggestions are great and everyone should follow them. If you have the time and the inclination - letters to the LPC can be more effective than an RFE form and make sure to cc CM Peter Vallone Jr. on all your correspondence. Just because he hasn't done anything for the preservation of the area in 6 years doesn't mean he should be given a free pass now.

Simeon Bankoff
Executive Director
Historic Districts Council
232 East 11th Street
New York, NY 10003
p: 212-614-9107
f:  212-614-9127
c: 646-942-7354
e: sbankoff@hdc.org

Visit HDC at www.hdc.org
Find out the latest preservation news & events at http://hdcvoice.blogspot.com/

[Maspeth Maverick]

It's really disgusting what has happened to Old Astoria Village.  Developers did the same thing to most of Maspeth, and they are about to do it to St. Saviour's Church.  There's nothing left of our history.  This is what some call "progress".  Only greedy developers and politicians could think that bulldozing and replacing entire communities brings positive change.  There are those that wonder why people bother to fight to keep their historical structures and laugh at them for doing so. They are obviously people who don't care about the well-being of Queens communities.  Some of these people run blogs.

[Gleason]

Thank you Megc! Thank you Simeon! Thank you Maspeth Maverick!

Nearly 40 people were involved in a walking tour this past weekend through Old Astoria and everyone was not only horrified at what they saw (the tour will soon to be posted on the Forgotten NY website) put found the community's passiveness inexcusable and incomprehensible. This is a black mark for Astoria. As I said before, it makes us a laughing stock around the city. 

How about the other 2,997 that have joined this board? Lets hear from you! Go down to 12th Street, 14th Street, and 27th Avenue and give us your impressions. Is this the legacy our generation wants to leave the future? Many of your love Astoria - well lets prove it by stopping this travesty with your comments and continued attention.

Folks, what about that on line petition? Lizluv, excellent idea. Please go ahead. Will it be like the one they put up for the bookstore? Lets keep this simmering.

Please.

[Debbie]

Should this be something which we bring up at our meeting in a couple of weeks?

[megc]

I've written a piece on this at OuterB, for anyone who is interested.  While we are not sharply slanted like some blogs, I was happy to include the info one would need to raise their voice toward landmarking the building.

http://www.outerb.com/?p=807

[Gleason]

I would think that any self styled community leader would come out in favor of saving this building -  one need only look around the city for example after example of people with the courage and conviction to have done this.

Only a few weeks ago our community got egg on its face (again) when the Daily News reported the destruction of LI Savings Bank in Queens Plaza. Lack of information to the community spelled disaster for that building. The local civic was caught unawares.

Not so in this case. You are a regular writer of real estate in NY so we might assume that you consider your opinion noteworthy. You have now brought this to the public's attention.

You now have an opportunitiy handed to you on a silver platter to save this worthy structure Megc.

Lets see what you will do.

[TRX]

While some of the older properties are lovely, much of the newer constructions appear to be of better use for the community.


I dont think the issue is so easily resolved.


If however the owners wish for a historical designation and see it as a treasure for posterity, I would support them.

[Ditmartian]

Aside from sentimentality, what compelling reason is there to preserve these places? The existence of a big $3.9 million home is of no direct benefit to me. I can't own it, go inside it, hang out on the property.

And has anyone asked why homeowners in this area are not resistant to the change? Could it be that property taxes are killing them and they're looking to get a nice return on their property? I believe if it's designated a historical site, there are major restrictions as to what a homeowner can do -- even for upkeep and maintenance. Then there's the neighborhood itself -- not exactly great what with projects down the block and zero amenities.

You're talking about getting something for nothing, at the expense of the people who actually own these homes. And you're ultimately trying to tell people what they can do with their own property. I'm not down with that.

In other words, if I was the owner of that 3.9 million dollar white elephant and told I need to preserve it, what's in it for me?

[Ditmartian]

Instead of neg-nodding, maybe try answering my questions instead.....