Nancy Cataldi, president of the Richmond Hill Historical Society, fears that one of Queens' few landmarks, the Richmond Hill Republican Club, is in danger of collapsing:Where Dignitaries Spoke, Bad Beams and Frail Walls
Vibrations from the demolition of the adjacent Simonson's Funeral Home are putting the structure in imminent peril.
LPC won't make Richmond Hill an historic district and doesn't seem to care if its individual landmarks fall down. By the way, this is in our friend Pinky's council district, and he is supposedly a Republican. What is he doing about this?
Photo from NY Times
33 comments:
Maybe if Pinky grabbed a quick "bracer", he'd have the backbone to do something more than spout words (as we all heard him do at that rally in front of the Republican Club...wasn't it about a year ago)? Just add this one to Gallagher's long list of broken promises! Hey you, that fellow at HDC, who made Dennis a "preservation saint" in the local press......got any ideas?
Please don't annoy HDC with subversive comments. They'll have to put in too many man-hours scoping this site for snipes against them and composing proper responses. This will leave them with less time to do their real jobs. We need them!
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Hey??????????what do you mean by all those question marks? Are you suggesting that HDC should be spending more time in Queens than they do in Manhattan? You're a little mysterious and vague!
Maybe HDC should publish an article in their newsletter about how Queens is getting "the shaft" when it comes to the LPC's treatment of them!
That's certainly a good idea. Did you know that HDC went to court and sued the LPC regarding the Commission's "closed meetings". That took real courage! Don't disparage them. They're not the weaklings that the "hysterical societies" seem to be. Maybe Simeon Bancoff, their executive director would be willing to enlighten the readers on this subject and its outcome.
The fact of the matter is one robin does not make a spring, and one or two stabs at support does not make a trend. Yes, there are some faint gestures in our direction. That being said, the preservation movement in NYC is in serious trouble in Queens and elsewhere. What is needed is a complete rethinking and revamping of the way things are being done. HDC, as well as any group, should be open to criticism if the goals they were set out to achieve are not being met. First of all, personal attacks must not be tolerated. This is counter productive and must stop. Now. We can only go forward with dialogue, debate, and discussion. We will all be stronger with reasoned logical arguments thrown into the public forum: criticism that goes back and forth. 1. I believe the senseless arm twisting for the established preservation community to put St Saviour's on the radar is inexcusable; its subsequent disappearance is unconscionable, 2. the disastrous Sunnyside Gardens campaign where defeat seems to be snatched from the jaws of victory shows that the preservation community is unequal to rough and tumble world of NYC politics; 3. the silence from the city-wide preservation community on the full knowledge that Queens is not getting its fair share is now in the spotlight, and can no longer be ignored or tolerated, 4. and the refusal by the city-wide preservation community to acknowledge that there are two standards in this city, Manhattan/Brooklyn, and everyone else, is not going to be accepted anymore, 5. and finally, the coronation from the city-wide preservation of weak leadership (at least in Queens) and the fact is that their boards are underrepresented with only a token or two representing a borough that embraces nearly 40% of the city, weakens fatally their influence in Queens. There are serious divisions in the preservation community that grows by the hour. With the movement splintering into camps, the status quo is all but unstable. Village Voice piece on Tom Wolfe, along with the rehabilitation of Robert Moses, tells us that the old chapter is closed. And as long as Queens does not get is share, with either the passive or active knowledge of citywide preservation groups, then we can state quite firmly, that the traditional center does not deserve our support, and things are going to change, pure and simple.
Who is the one being naive here?
If you forced their hand, they would call up borough hall and get the places filled.
Then you would have 'tweeder' landmarks (Dragon Boat Docks, the 'Pet Rock' in Corona) and safe non-buildable landmarks (how about that model of civic virtue, the current Borough Hall.)
College Pt, Richmond Hill(s), Middle Village, and Steinway would still be beyond the 'pale.'
Next idea?
Dear "one Robin does not make a Spring", so you don't like "personal attacks"? And we should proceed with "dialogue, debate and discussion" and will be "stronger with reasoned logic"? Who the hell are you anyway? You are obviously out of touch with what's been going on in Queens for well over a quarter of a century! All of these techniques have been tried ad infinitum without achieving any measurable degree of success! There, I can assume a "proffessorial tone" with my rhetoric also! As far the issue of "personal attacks" is concerned, when they are necessary and effective they will be used (i.e. such as exposing Melindad Katz for the "builders' courtesan that she is". I find this blog to be extremely effective in promoting the real truth which is something that the traditional media fail to cover , or wishes to cover up! Sir, or madam, if you don't have the stomach for real battle or faint at the sight of what might appear in this peoples' voice blog, sit in the stands and watch the game (with dark glasses on) , that way the sight of blood won't disgust you! Now that's intended to be very personal!
Yeah that "one Robin...spring" guy seems to prefer a game of "touch' (or touchy-feely) football rather than the "tackle"real type of action! Maybe he's a Dennis Gallagher stooge, J.H. beauty Committee milk-toast type, maybe even Mayor Mike (incognito) himself or a group creation of a single individual. Whoever it is this blog's gettin' to em'! Keep on "bunting" sonny but keep yer distance from the ball, ya might get beaned!
I agree! If any one wants to use all the failed "logic, reason or dialogue" in this game of historic preservation hard ball, go play in a sandbox! This games not for wussies! Neither is this blog!
The reasoned dialogue of the previous two posters are very useful. Personal attacks, foaming at the month, my my my we must be getting somewhere and touching some raw nerves. Keep it up sonny. After the kiddies knock themselves out and fall asleep maybe us adults can sit around and come up with some more good ideas. Keep up the good work!
If the various preservation groups are splintering, so be it. They were never really united anyway....always back-biting and competing with each other while pretending to cooperate on the surface! Now at least the situation is visable to all! The sill beams of the preservation movement are rotten with Termite damage. It's time to rebuild the movement!
That's true. You can't build upon a crumbling foundation. Whether the preservation movement, as currently constructed, continues to exist or vanishes from the scene, it doesn't seem to be making much of a difference! Such placebos do little to cure an ailment. The overall disease is far worse. It is the very destruction of the fabric of our borough's, city's and our nation's history.
We ought to hand out individual "Fleet Enemas" at the next preservation wine and cheese gathering. That ought to clear out a backed up movement!
Good idea! Too many "anal types"!
Ladies and gentlemen, please, a little decorum!
How so? Academic Anemia has to be treated vigorously!
May I suggest that you look into joining hands with the "Citizens Emergency Committee To Preserve Preservation". It seems to be off to a good start with their lawsuit against Bloomberg. Give them a chance!
Yes, they've realized that all past diplomacy has failed and have girded their loins for battle in court!
Oh, you quaint misinformed "Robins in the Spring" blogger.......so you disapprove of (as you put it) the"senseless arm twisting" to save St. Saviour's and seem to think that it's "susequent dissappearence" is eminent. The community will not roll over on this one! As Yogi Berra once said, "I t ain't over 'til it's over"! Go back to your knitting whilst we keep on fighting! And pardon our dust in your face!
I am shocked that the ex Simonson's Funeral home next door to the club wasn't saved. There was physically nothing wrong with this historical building. My mom worked there in the 80's and I was allowed to explore this nice example of Victorian architecture. It's most prominant fixture, in my opinion, was it's still operational, hand-drawn elevator. I guess that the plans for the "historic downtown" Richmond Hill will soon be scrapped as this block was supposed to be it's center.
rush2ny@aol.com
"Citizens Emergency Committee To Preserve Preservation". Wow, now there is a 'citizens' group with one simple idea. Reform LPC and bring us back to the golden age. What was to you a golden age was a disaster in Queens. Did anyone ask the grassroots what was important? No, it's like everything else in preservation: from the top dowm. Going after the LPC will do nothing to address the fact the reources in preservation are allocated unequally to Manhattan. Going after the LPC does nothing to change the attitudes of the Manhattan crowd, who not only have a stranglehold on the agenda in preservation, but frankly look down on the outer boroughs. Even if you get everything you want from LPC, it will not change things in Queens one bit.
How about Woodside, buster?
We will be providing you a nice letter soon where the certain congressman's staff misled the public on landmarks.
Stay tuned!
This crumbling ediface perfectly reflects the caring attitude of our Republican City Councilman Gallagher!
This building is actually in Melinda Katz's district, not that she's any better.
Katz & Gallagher...sounds like a vaudeville show. Their talent is morphing into the same person.
That's interesting...Gallagher and Avella were at last year's rally. I don't recall the Queen of Queens Crap making an appearance.
My bad.... confusing Katz's district with Gallagher's (same attitude, different parties). But politics does make for "strange bedfellows". H-m-m-m...canoodling again?
Does anyone see Melinda Katz in this photo?
RALLY FOR NEW LANDMARK
DISTRICT IN RICHMOND HILL
Isn't Richmond Hill part of her district?
Yes, it is, and she sells it out every chance she gets.
As well as other parts of her district.
It is very sad that Melinda Katz wields such power and that she's used it to destroy Queens history!
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