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City Council Approves Second Expansion Of Park Slope Historic District

Donny Levit

Donny Levit

— 2 min read
City Council Approves Second Expansion Of Park Slope Historic District
Phase II Expansion of Park Slope Historic District
Phase II Expansion of Park Slope Historic District. (Via Park Slope Civic Council)

Nearly 300 buildings have been added to the Park Slope Historic District (PSHD) as of last Thursday when the New York City Council voted to approve the second expansion since the district’s establishment in 1973.

The City Council vote came after an April 2016 approval by the Landmarks Preservation Commission for the Phase II expansion, which runs along 6th Avenue between St. Marks Avenue and Sterling Place. Several other sections are also part of the extension, including Plaza Street West off of Grand Army Plaza.

St Augustine's via wiki
St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church at 122 6th Avenue. (Photo by Beyond My Ken)

In addition to residential buildings, the extension includes both institutional and ecclesiastical architecture. Some of the most noteworthy are:

  • St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church, 6th Avenue and Sterling Place
  • The former Church of Christ Scientist (now the Berkeley Carroll School), 156 Sterling Place, between 7th Avenue and Flatbush Avenue.
  • The Carlton Club, 85 6th Avenue
  • 47 Plaza Street West, Park Slope’s “Flatiron Building”
  • 22 Berkeley Place, a wood frame house dating to the mid-1800s

“These are some of the most beautiful streets in New York and, with today’s vote, we know they will continue to be enjoyed for their history and character for generations to come,” said Council Member Brad Lander. “I’m grateful for the advocacy of the Park Slope Civic Council over the years to push for this designation, and pleased to see their efforts pay off today.”

Park Slope Historic District Extension II
Park Slope Historic District Extension II. (Courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission)

The expansion is also noteworthy because of its collaborative community advocacy, including the Park Slope Civic Council, Council Member Lander, as well as CM Stephen Levin, who represented the area until 2014.

“The North Slope expansion is another significant milestone towards the Civic Council’s goal of protecting all of the neighborhood’s worthy buildings through landmark designation,” said Peter Bray, chair of the Park Slope Civic Council’s Historic District Committee. “The buildings that were designated today include some of Park Slope’s oldest structures, dating to just after the Civil War. The extension could not have been achieved without the widespread support of the Park Slope community for protecting its architectural and historic heritage.”

According to a statement released by Lander’s office, the expansion of PSHD makes it “the largest historic district in New York City.”

Bray notes the expansion process will continue. “In the coming weeks, we expect the Landmarks Preservation Commission to begin moving forward on a third extension in the Center Slope as part of the Civic Council’s continuing efforts,” he said.

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