How does a homeowner who wishes to keep their property such as these intact if deemed historic? There should be assistance or RE tax elimination incentive to maintain as required. Not all homeowners in these homes can afford to be exacting and thus wind up fighting preservation or selling to a developer whom will tear it down for the property's plot. - It truly a shame. These home owners are not rich Manhattanites.
You can get grants for work on your home AND tax breaks if you live in an historic district or your house has been designated a landmark. Call 212-614-9107 for more info.
I grew up bicoastally, 1/2 in Forest Hills and 1/2 in California(both LA and SF), in pretty much annual shifts. Since then I've been all over the country.
From my own perceptions, it seems that everywhere, the talent and craftsmanship of yesteryear is being tragically phased out by a generation that not only doesn't respect anything that prevailed before they were born, but whose attitude is "why should I learn the rudiments of what I do when a computer can do most of the job for me?"
The results (which suck), at least from my own perspective, pretty much speak for themselves.
Seth, I agree. It is a lack of craftsmanship. These days, to find skilled bricklayers and craftsmen is really hard to come by. "Contractor specials" (as I like to call them)or "Paste and slap construction" is easier and in the developer's eyes "cost effective". "Re-adapt and re-use", people. "Re-adapt" and "re-use"!
New to the blog, but I love these pictures. College Point is under siege via developers looking to score quick cash. The neighborhood is beginning to show the tell tale signs of the urban decay that accompanies stuffing people--like rats--into buildings and areas that were not meant to accommodate so many bodies. Add to that fact, half of those residents cannot speak English and their offspring love to spray paint other people's property and there you have it; the recipe for a future ghetto. Too bad, because College Point was a great place to grow up.
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It's so sad. It was so nice there. I have friends who still live there, for now. I visit them often.
The house in the last photograph was almost demolished, it had been vacant for years. I'm glad it has been restored.
College Point is going fast. The new zoning is killing it.
How does a homeowner who wishes to keep their property such as these intact if deemed historic? There should be assistance or RE tax elimination incentive to maintain as required. Not all homeowners in these homes can afford to be exacting and thus wind up fighting preservation or selling to a developer whom will tear it down for the property's plot. - It truly a shame. These home owners are not rich Manhattanites.
You can get grants for work on your home AND tax breaks if you live in an historic district or your house has been designated a landmark. Call 212-614-9107 for more info.
Now I ask you......
aren't sites like these landmark worthy?
Alas.....
but they're located in Queens.....
where the LPC staff fears to tread.
You see.....the idea of crossing the East River.....
makes Mary Beth Betts paranoid.
She's afraid of being eaten by sea monsters.
Nah.....
no self respecting river serpent would
swallow a troll like her !
Upon realizing his mistake.....
he'd quickly vomit her up on shore
(and upon her insistence.....in Manhattan ) !
Alka Seltzer anyone ? (Poor little sea monster) .
Alas.....
but they're located in Queens.....
where the LPC staff fears to tread.
---------
And the preservation community, having already got eveything they care about, dont give a shit.
thanks for the pics of these last architectural gems...the point rocks!
i love the walkable, smalltown feeling and low rents
crappy's got to keep CP on the downlow so the yupsters don't invade!
I grew up bicoastally, 1/2 in Forest Hills and 1/2 in California(both LA and SF), in pretty much annual shifts. Since then I've been all over the country.
From my own perceptions, it seems that everywhere, the talent and craftsmanship of yesteryear is being tragically phased out by a generation that not only doesn't respect anything that prevailed before they were born, but whose attitude is "why should I learn the rudiments of what I do when a computer can do most of the job for me?"
The results (which suck), at least from my own perspective, pretty much speak for themselves.
Wow! Those houses are beautiful!!!
Seth,
I agree. It is a lack of craftsmanship. These days, to find skilled bricklayers and craftsmen is really hard to come by. "Contractor specials" (as I like to call them)or "Paste and slap construction" is easier and in the developer's eyes "cost effective". "Re-adapt and re-use", people. "Re-adapt" and "re-use"!
This is what Queens looked like before the two bit hacks took it over.
They're certainly a bunch of hacks.
But they're getting far more than two bits
in kickbacks for selling out Queens!
New to the blog, but I love these pictures. College Point is under siege via developers looking to score quick cash. The neighborhood is beginning to show the tell tale signs of the urban decay that accompanies stuffing people--like rats--into buildings and areas that were not meant to accommodate so many bodies. Add to that fact, half of those residents cannot speak English and their offspring love to spray paint other people's property and there you have it; the recipe for a future ghetto. Too bad, because College Point was a great place to grow up.
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