Sunday, June 26, 2016

Effort underway to protect Childs Restaurant facade

From DNA Info:

A 1920s-era building on Broadway that was once home to one of the nation's earliest restaurant chains is under renovation, sparking concern from a local historical group that wants to make sure its exterior is preserved.

The former Childs Restaurant building at 36-01 Broadway is recognizable for its ornate facade of nautical-themed terra cotta figures.

But those details are currently concealed behind scaffolding as crews renovate the property to combine it with a shop next door — prompting worries about the future of the unique architecture.

"It's just a beautiful gem of a building," said Bob Singleton of the Greater Astoria Historical Society. "When people walk up and down that street they look at that, they instinctively look at that building."

The owners of the property — that was most recently occupied by a Rite Aid — are combining the now vacant space with the DII discount shop next door to it, according to Morris Dweck, who works for the variety store chain.

The company was just made aware of the community's interest in preserving the facade after receiving an email about it on Thursday, Dweck said, and it's still determining what to do to address residents' concerns.


11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Once again Costa will let down his community.

What can you expect from someone who thinks the gang kicking the Steinway Mansion into the ground are 'good guys from the neighborhood' and that a piano shaped spray at a some park is a good replacement for the educational programs the mansion could provide. Just what neighborhood does he promote. Vallonia?

Has he called the historical society for information on the Astoria Childs ? Historic Districts Council for information on the already designated Coney Island Childs?

Of course not.

He is 'studying' this (when the press can get him to stir to make any comment at all).

What he means is that he will wait for LPC to do some research - not to find any reason to save the building - but to make certain that there is no compelling reason to save it. Once they give him the green light (as they did, for example, to Jimmy Van Bramer on that Elks building a few months back), the jackhammers will be applied.

Remember, these people were placed in front of you only to go through the motions of an election, much as a walkway is provided to cows not to go a pasture, but to be led to the slaughterhouse.

Hopefully Sanders, Trump, and Brixet are pointing to a change in the winds.

Coffee? Tea? Or me? said...

Brixet?

I know they used to serve at Child's brisket.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Coffee? Tea? Or me? said...
Brixet?

I know they used to serve at Child's brisket.

HACK ATTACK!

Anonymous said...

Olden days tacky is now historic? The more things change the more they stay the same.

JQ LLC said...

It's Brexit and it's not going to end well for Queen and Country

Anonymous said...

Tacky displays your ignorance. Some of the finest creative minds went into that artwork:

https://www.facebook.com/AstoriaHistory/photos/pcb.1143418299013844/1143418239013850/?type=3&theater

The fact is the community wants it and now there is talk of a boycott if the store harms it.

(sarc) said...

Deposit the lovely art and bricks into a crate and donate it to the local historical society.

Let them worry about it...

Anonymous said...

Deposit the lovely art and bricks into a crate and donate it to the local historical society.

Let them worry about it...

______________________________________________________________________


Like the Ronzoni sign!

Anonymous said...

Lets leave it in place for the community. That's a read on local opinion.

Do you have a problem with something nice for Astoria?

Anonymous said...

Like....anybody really cares what a historical society has to say. REBNY runs NYC!
GAHS and all the other hysterical societies are no match for this Goliath. Too bad.
But then, what has Queens got to offer except underutilized land according to the real estate industry?
Remove the elements and donate them to the Queens Museum to be displayed. Let's face it, that third rate museum needs a boost.

Anonymous said...

The same kind of "effort" that saved the Steinway Mansion lot?
Groan! Here goes another loss along with the Elks Club in LIC.