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From DNA Info:A group trying to buy and restore the sprawling Steinway Mansion is turning to the very thing that made the landmarked Astoria building famous in the first place — music.
The Friends of Steinway Mansion will kick off a series of live concerts beginning Saturday to raise awareness and funds to turn the former home of the famous piano-making family into a museum and community space, the group announced.
"Using music to raise awareness for the plight of the Steinway Mansion was frankly a no-brainer," Bob Singleton, executive director of Greater Astoria Historical Society, said in a statement.
"The Steinways revolutionized modern music and modern New York," he continued. "The Steinway Mansion Music Fest pays homage to both legacies and appropriately launches our fundraising effort to save the Mansion."
The 27-room villa, which sits atop a hill at 18-33 41st St., was built in the 1850s and was home to the Steinway family from the end of the 19th century until 1925. It was declared a New York City landmark in 1967, and has been up for sale for the past several years.
The Friends of Steinway Mansion want to open the building up to the public and estimate they will need around $5 million to purchase the house and its surrounding grounds, and then another $4 million to restore it.
13 comments:
Correction to the Daily News article of 9/25/13:
the group is raising money for the entire parcel - the owner wants to sell half the lot for a factory whose property line could be 6 inches from the mansion and street exposure 20 feet down to the curb.
Such action could seriously jeopardize the mansion so the Friends have gone on record as pursuing the entire parcel.
All kinds of "weirdo" locales for restaurants all over the city. No "cutting-edge restaurateur" interested in this locale?
Who occupied this house after 1925?
If the music is free, how do they expect to raise money?
BRAVO!
Good for you, Mr. Singleton and Friends of Steinway Mansion!
Councilman Jimmy Van "no-brainer" should have been spearheading the effort to preserve this treasure.
But alas, he seems to be more interested in taking money from developers in order to get re-elected.
i.e.
For instance, from the Wolkoff family that owns the "5 Pointz" site in LIC.
If the mansion were to open up as a gay resource center, Jimmy might be more interested in it.
He's looks like a one note politician who appears to be mainly interested in gay rights.
There's nothing wrong with fighting for gay rights, but what about the rest of the voters who elected Van Bramer?
Surely they're not all gay.
Councilman Jimmy Van "no-brainer" should have been spearheading the effort to preserve this treasure.
But alas, he seems to be more interested in taking money from developers in order to get re-elected.
i.e.
For instance, from the Wolkoff family that owns the "5 Pointz" site in LIC.
Jimmy Van Bramer is clearly a friend to the developers in NYC, but this isn't in his district, and won't be - it's Peter Vallone Jr. As usual.
Bravo people! Nice coverage!
Unprecedented support across the local spectrum.
Smart move now for the electeds to get behind the community.
"Paulson as a neighbor
Is the game changer."
I hope it gets preserved and is used for a good purpose!!
Ah--
being an easterner, I'm on the wrong side of the fine line between Astoria and LIC. My bad for the mistake.
BUT--shouldn't Councilman Jimmy should be involved here? Isn't HE the "cultural czar" of the city council?
Jimmy boy will wind up being re-elected to continue crapping all over his district--and he's got a good partner in Joe Conley--another shady character.
Actually where is Van Bramer, Simotas, Gianaris, and Constantidies?
And Mr. Crowley.
Virginia Joe Crowley can't be bothered with what's going on here.
He's too busy enjoying the good life down south.
"Uh, pass me another mint julep, son".
the Democratic dictatorship of Queens rules the roost without any other responsible, serious challengers from the GOP.
IT'S TIME TO DUMP THAT OLD FOSSIL, RAGUSA!
Then, maybe, there will be hope for the Republicans.
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