LPC Approves Dumbo Historic District

The Landmarks Preservation Commission has granted landmark status to the Dumbo Historic District.

The Commission voted unanimously 8-0 this afternoon to protect the blocks and 91 historic buildings in Dumbo. The new historic district is bound by John Street to the north, York Street to the south, Main Street to the west and Bridge Street to the east. According to the LPC, the Dumbo area was “essential to Brooklyn’s rise as a major American industrial center and was the home of some of the most important industrial firms in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century America including Arbuckle Brothers (coffee and sugar), J. W. Masury & Son (paint), Robert Gair (paper boxes), E. W. Bliss (machinery), and Brillo (steel wool). The buildings in the district reflect the extraordinary diversity of Brooklyn’s industrial development, with manufactured and processed goods including coffee, tea, sugar, machinery, paint, varnish, paper boxes, shoes, soap, ale, and steel wool. By the early twentieth century, Brooklyn was the fourth largest manufacturing center in the entire country and a significant portion of this manufacturing was done in DUMBO.”

The Dumbo Historic District also protects its dramatic streetscapes. The Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge soar over the Belgian Block streets, some with remnants of the old Jay Street Connecting Railroad along Plymouth Street, to connect the former warehouses. In 1959, the Jay Street Connecting Railroad ceased to operate. Commission Chairman Robert B. Tierney states:

“DUMBO’s distinctively designed buildings and sublime vistas survive to this day, and still define its character, even as it has evolved into a largely residential neighborhood. This designation will ensure that this still-evolving neighborhood retains its unique historic character.”

Now the City Council needs to sign off on the designation. City Councilman David Yassky has publicly supported Dumbo landmarking and testified at the LDC that Dumbo is worthy of preservation.

DUMBO_map_pdf

LPC Press Release: Landmarks Preservation Commission Designates Dumbo As New York City’s 90th Historic District (pdf)

Previously:
{Dumbo Historic District Landmark Moving Forward, 31Oct07}
{LPC Public Hearing for Dumbo Historic District Tomorrow, 29Oct07}
{Dumbo Landmarking Calendared for 30Oct2007, 01Oct07}
{LPC Voted 8-0 to Consider Dumbo a Historic District, 26July07}
{Dumbo Historic District to Be Calendared Today, 24July07}
{NY Times Highlights Dumbo Neighborhood Association, 4June2007 }
{Any Feedback from the LPC Meeting?, 19April2007}
{Dumbo Landmarking Meeting on Thursday at 10am, 17April2007}

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