From the NY Times:A storybook magic hangs about St. Paul’s School, a 130-year-old brick palace that seems caught in an evil spell, inching toward a tragic end while ripping this affluent Long Island suburb apart.
The school stands four stories tall, all red brick, spires and gargoyles, topped by a pitched slate roof and lined with windows hugged by keystones. It looks like the kind of place young Jane Eyres or Harry Potters might race through, and thousands of students did, from the early 1880s until it closed in 1991.
But now, nearly two decades after Garden City bought St. Paul’s and its surrounding athletic fields, the village is considering tearing it down. An environmental review of the proposed demolition is under way, with a vote on whether to pay for it expected in the coming months.
The proposal is not a result of a lack of affection for the High Victorian Gothic behemoth, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places — the village illuminates St. Paul’s at night with spotlights, and dressed it with an outsize Christmas wreath. The people of Garden City just cannot agree what to do with it.
Preservationists say the imbroglio underscores just how vulnerable old buildings can be in the suburbs. Individual municipalities hold the primary power in designating landmarks — the federal and state governments play a limited role — and St. Paul’s has virtually no protection because Garden City has no landmark ordinances.
16 comments:
Classic example of why the suburbs are consider a wasteland.
Unless their is some -major- structural failing here, there is no good reason why this building could not be reused as apartments, offices, daycare etc.
In those two-bit communities there is usually someone well connected that has their eye on the property and is driving the issue of demolition.
Say what you will about Manhattan but at least here such a structure would have a fighting chance of being appreciated.
Not if it was in Queens.
I envision a tent city populated by the homeless of Nassau.
"CClassic example of why the suburbs are consider a wasteland.
Unless their is some -major- structural failing here, there is no good reason why this building could not be reused as apartments, offices, daycare etc.
In those two-bit communities there is usually someone well connected that has their eye on the property and is driving the issue of demolition."
The suburbs are a wasteland? It wont be reused like u suggest bc the folks in GC dont want the urban density u speak of. Why is it so bad? No laundromat/bodega/nail salon/liquor store/drug store lined up in a row? You can consider it a wasteland. People that live there consider it a great respite from Queens Crap.
That is why they are there. And they pay for it.
What a beautiful building - and with PROPERTY too!
I agree with Lino - there is someone "well connected" that has their eye on this. They'll knock it down and put up condos. Shame.
Reopen it as a school, there are still children in Garden City and Eastern Queens areas that could use a building like this.
Saint Pauls has been in limbo since 1991. That means that for nearly 20 years, a White Knight could have appeared on the scene to save her. I will miss her.
Ed. Class of 1979.
This was a Suozzi plan to make high density housing
Suozzi is out on his ass now
It likley wont happen with the new guy.
The property is surrounded by the richest lawyers in the country they will tie it up for 20 years.
The building needs a couple million in roof repairs and costs a fortune to heat in 2010.
Chump change for Garden City
Lino said:
Say what you will about Manhattan but at least here such a structure would have a fighting chance of being appreciated.
Really?
Check the link and see some of what you have under appreciated up until now.
http://www.nyc-architecture.com/GON/GON.htm
There are a few other apartment buildings in the vicinity, so why not convert the school to luxury apartments?
Or how about an Annex for the Garden City Hotel?
Queens has virtually no protection under the LPC!
"CJ in wasteland said..
Check the link and see some of what you have under appreciated up until now."
Well "CJ" at least you know where you are at.
I have a collection of picture books and essays about NYC and, at 53 have a living memory of some of those buildings. Old Penn Sta was huge and to my 7 year old eyes somewhat creepy. The old Met was impressive with it's plush gold/red interior but as I found from talking to those who had worked there totally inadequate for in terms of stage facilities. It's structure alone could not support a modern counterweight fly system let alone automated winches. Scenery was often stored out back in an alley.
The link you provided (thanks BTW) concerns itself mostly with buildings destroyed before the Landmarks Preservation Act something hotly fought by the landlords and their conservative buttboys.
Yeah, NYC did lose alot of classy buildings but it has so many left, Garden City..well that's another matter.
How about adaptively reusing the historic school in a creative manner? This has been done countless times, giving gems in our communities countrywide new life. Do the owners and elected officials in Garden City have no shame? Hopefully, this will NOT be the Penn Station of Garden City, and lead to the enactment of landmark laws when the damage is already done. Don't let history repeat itself! Put landmarking on the books and work with the public to designate it and embark on a clever reuse plan. NOW is the time! This would be a catastrophy, and you would educate our children on how to destroy History 101 & Art 101, as well as values.
what a shame:(
the building has the potential of becoming a Garden City's Historic Museum of something. And it also looks like a beautiful place for art exhibitions or an artist gallery. I mean it takes money to demolish right? Why not use that money to clean it, restore it and create some kind of landmark like a tourist attraction?
sigh..money money..
is it true ts haunted?
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