Local historians are campaigning to save a house in the neighborhood once home to a well-known musician and composer — but the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) says the building has been too significantly altered to warrant landmark status.
The Greater Astoria Historical Society submitted a Request for Evaluation to the LPC in March for the pale yellow 3-story house at 31-07 31st Ave. near 31st Street, which they say was home to Ferdinand Quentin Dulcken, a pianist, composer and music teacher.
The house was purchased by for nearly $1.4 million in 2015, records show. Its owner, George Hrisikopoulos, filed plans with the Department of Buildings in March to develop the site into a 6-story apartment building with a restaurant on the first floor.
He declined to comment when reached by phone on Friday.
17 comments:
http://apartable.com/buildings/30-75-34-street-queens
It is owned by Gmh 34 Th, Llc and managed by George Hrisikopoulos.
Class I building violation -
§27-2107 ADM CODE OWNER FAILED TO FILE A VALID REGISTRATION STATEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT AS REQUIRED BY ADM CODE §27-2097 AND IS THEREFORE SUBJECT TO CIVIL PENALTIES, PROHIBITED FROM CERTIFYING VIOLATIONS, AND DENIED THE RIGHT TO RECOVER POSSESSION OF PREMISES FOR NONPAYMENT OF RENT UNTIL A VALID REGISTRATION STATEMENT IS FILED.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/law-offices-of-george-hrisikopoulos-astoria
I was assigned this lawyer by Realty Executives when trying to buy a house. I only came to him because Realty Executives said if I wanted buy the house, I have to use the lawyer they gave. Fine. Instead of looking out for my interests, which is his job, he made me sign documents absolving him of any responsibility in the event something went downhill. I don't recommend using this law office because Executive Realty is bad enough with their ultimatums, now I'm stuck with a lawyer who doesn't care for his client.
Posted a few weeks later on Yelp after the above review:
He is the best attorney I have ever dealt with. He really does care about his clients and their best interests. He does not push you to close, like most real estate attorneys. He has helped me with many transactions and has gotten me out of a few pretty bad deals in the past. There was a deal that went sour and he never even charged me! I don't know any attorneys that wouldn't charge for every minute they spend on any deal.
(Posted by by Yelp: We use automated software to recommend the reviews we think will be the most helpful to the Yelp community based primarily on quality, reliability and the reviewer’s activity on Yelp. Advertisers get no special treatment. The review didn’t make the cut and are therefore not factored into this business's overall star rating.)
People almost seem giddy that this place is getting torn down. That is sick.
Our elected officials let us down. Our community board let us down. Our much vaunted cultural scene let us down. Everyone let us down.
A little bit of effort on all their parts could have made a completely different story and the chance for Astoria to finally move out of the 1980s or even 1950s.
Watching those that decided this is a bit like watching Hillary shooting herself in the foot. We have a political culture that drips with self entitlement and arrogance - who looks down on everyone else and whose lives are lived in a bubble - which pretty much explains why we have that disaster in Washington that is beloved by 95% of the people that voted for him.
I'm not sure what was done inside but you can see the original home had two window on the second floor on the right side and now there is only one in the middle.
The second floor bay window is gone as well as the porch wrapping around to the left.
In place of the porch on the left is an addition.
Kind of surprised crappy that you are reporting on stale news - kinda has a snarky feel to it? BTW if you read the DNA article it mentions the re-submission, but, because its Queens, it has to have 'appropriate' headlines.
They already applied for a new review based on its cultural merit:
http://www.ny1.com/nyc/queens/news/2017/05/9/fight-over-1870-s-home-continues--despite-not-being-recognized-as-a-landmark.html
As this bad news is a surprise.
Dam shame but judging from the outside, that house it has already been destroyed with alterations. Its interior wooden floors, woodwork and fireplace mantles is likely all gone as well.
I'm all for preservation but I have lived down the block from this house for thirty years and it has always been a dump. The Steinway Mansion fiasco is an absolute tragedy. This place? Not so much.
it was used as an SRO at one point so yeah i have a feeling the interior isnt exactly pristine
Last two posters don't know much about restoring buildings. This mansion is actually pretty straight forward to restore - they built homes to last forever in those days.
As a matter of fact, much of the Village and Brooklyn Heights looked like this at one time. As a matter of fact, a good portion of the city looked like this as late as the 70s. Now the only place you find serious run down slums are in Queens.
I spent many a summer in college working with people that restored these homes. Do a little search outside of Queens into other parts of the city and the country.
Expand your horizons, you might be surprised at what you find out there in the big world.
Queens, the borough that throws away their history and bulldozes irreplacable structures. When will this change?
Queens, the borough that throws away their history and bulldozes irreplacable structures. When will this change?
IF THE PEOPLE IN QUEENS DEVELOP A BACKBONE THE MACHINE WOULD MELT LIKE SNOW BEFORE A SAHARA SUN. THE MACHINE ONLY CARES FOR THEIR OWN AND BULLIES US INTO SILENCE JUST LIKE THEY DID IN 2ND GRADE. ITS BLUFF PEOPLE, PURE N SIMPLE.
Not suprised! DeBlasio just realized after how many years in office that there is a "Queens". Need to put more pressure on these situations otherwise all of our local history will be gone. What about Cuomo? He's a Queens boy.....
There are 4 families left and they have to get out by the end of the month. They were kept in the dark on the purchase by George and how much he purchased the property for. This building is not a 2 family home. Some residents have no ovens and everyone has to share bathroom facilities. The SUPER has just been let go.
Everyone who cares about the property should attend the Community Board next week. Oh, and please tell the district manager you "formally" want her to put it down for discussion, as this is what she said had not been done to Gene on New York 1. Believe me, some member will support efforts to save the home. Both a constituent and Rich Melnick spoke up last month, and that's not the end of the story as you will soon hear in a week or so. A little more detective work is required. Follow the leads from there. Our local reporters are missing a big story. That's all I can say for now. The property is being deliberately run down and could have been restored some time ago.
The head of the cb claims 'no idea' what she means and suggests the head of the land use should do something.
the head of land use is caliendo.
these people just don't learn.
The interior is as it was when it was built. The hardwood floors are there. No real structural changes have been made on the inside. The only thing that has been done is that locks were put on all the doors to the rooms and people called those rooms "home". Once again, the interior hasn't been altered and it is beautiful with a large living room/parlour when you just walk in. You don't find these structures anymore and it's a shame it will be gone for yet another box with too many people filling it.
Post a Comment