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Seven to Save
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Williamsburg,
Brooklyn Named to
ALBANY, February 22, 2006 – The Preservation League of New York State has named the industrial architecture of Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood to the nonprofit group’s annual list of the Empire State’s most threatened historic resources, Seven to Save. The historic buildings of Williamsburg are a standing monument to the neighborhood’s former industrial glory, and provide housing and commercial space for area residents and businesses. Yet many of these buildings are in danger of being demolished to make way for new construction. “While growth and development are important to the overall health of the city and the state, the number and size of proposed developments will dwarf or destroy existing 18th and 19th century architecture, and forever change the character of the neighborhood,” said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League of New York State. “Without intervention, this important collection of buildings representing New York’s architectural and industrial history may be lost forever.” Due to its location on the East River, this area was once one of the most prosperous industrial areas in New York City. Many large factories remain, as well as the low-rise residential buildings that housed their workers. Williamsburg has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years with the arrival of new immigrants, artists drawn to loft space, and young professionals fleeing the high rents of Manhattan. However, some fear that an explosion of development pressure could leave these neighborhoods in danger of being overdeveloped to the point of anonymity. “The streetscapes and pedestrian scale which drew so many new residents and businesses to this community are the very things which are threatened by high-end residential development,” said Ward Dennis of the Waterfront Preservation Alliance of Williamsburg and Greenpoint. “The dilemma we are facing is one that is familiar in many areas of the city and state: how do we preserve the old while allowing for the new, and maintain the diverse community that gives our neighborhoods their unique appeal?” Williamsburg neighborhoods are a palimpsest of old and new. Old Belgian block pavement and railroad tracks peek through the asphalt in many places. They are also home to several East River icons which are in danger of being irretrievably altered for residential use, including the Domino Sugar plant north of the Williamsburg Bridge. According to Lorraine Weiss, Program Manager for Technical and Grant Programs at the Preservation League, the Seven to Save program also provides the opportunity for the League to work with strong local advocates. “We plan to partner with the Waterfront Preservation Alliance of Williamsburg and Greenpoint during this next year to educate developers, property owners and politicians alike on the value of the area’s historic resources. We hope to build consensus that preservation is not a stumbling block, but a stepping stone to popular, successful and productive communities.” The Preservation League is pledging its support to identify strategies for dealing with the threats and opportunities that this distinctive neighborhood is facing. “We are looking forward to working with the Waterfront Preservation Alliance of Williamsburg and Greenpoint and others to develop tools to promote the value of the range of existing built resources,” said DiLorenzo. “Together, we can surely come up with a plan for development which enhances rather than overshadows the character of the area.” Since 1999, publicity surrounding the Seven to Save designation has led to the stabilization of St. Joseph’s Church in Albany; the rehabilitation of the Oswego City Public Library, the adaptive re-use of the former Niagara Falls High School as a cultural and arts center, and prevented the demolition of the Conger Goodyear House on Long Island. The Preservation League of New York State, founded in 1974, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the protection of New York’s diverse and rich heritage of historic buildings, districts and landscapes. From its headquarters in Albany, it provides a unified voice for historic preservation. By leading a statewide movement and sharing information and expertise, the Preservation League of New York State promotes historic preservation as a tool to revitalize the Empire State’s neighborhoods and communities. ###
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