Everyone appreciates Richmond Hill - except LPC

From NY1:

Ivan Mrakovicic, the founder of the Richmond Hill Historical Society, says the neighborhood's architecture is quite special.

"Richmond Hill has a dynamic and rich architectural style -- predominately Victorian," said Mrakovicic. "Within the Victorian you have some free classic and have some very rigid symmetrical styled homes. You have Tutor arts and crafts style homes and pretty much they range from 1860s to 19-teens in terms of their architectural vintage."

Many of the homes have oversized porches, unique built-ins, inlaid floors and multicolored shingles -- details many residents work hard to preserve.

In the late 1800's, Richmond Hill served as home to many Manhattan business owners who were looking for space and some peace and quiet. Many of the original homes are still standing. And even though some may need a little TLC, buyers really can get a lot for their money.

And from the Queens Chronicle:

[Lisi] De Bourbon said many Richmond Hill proposals have crossed desks at the LPC, but the agency has found the community lacking a special sense of place because a number of its houses have been altered and enlarged, with many of their historic, original details such as siding, porches and dormers removed. The presence of larger apartment buildings in the area also compromise Richmond Hill’s ability to meet the definition of a historic district, as stated in a letter written by Robert Tierney, chairman of the LPC, to the late Nancy Cataldi, former president of the RHHS.

Perhaps surprisingly, Ditmas Park, a neighborhood in Brooklyn that boasts million-dollar Queen Anne Victorian homes, was granted landmark status last year, despite an admission by Historic Districts Council Executive Director Simeon Bankoff that “many [Ditmas Park houses] have had their original siding replaced by synthetic shingles or aluminum, porches have been enclosed and details removed.”