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# Open Thread Mondays: Blown Up
- URL: https://bklyner.com/open-thread-mondays-blown-up-sheepshead-bay/
- Published: 2010-09-20T10:00:24.000Z
- Updated: 2010-09-20T10:00:24.000Z
- Author: Ned Berke
- Tags: corbin pl, #API-Imported

Yikes. I wasn’t prepared for the slew of e-mails, texts and phone calls I received “congratulating” me for [getting quoted in the Daily News this weekend](http://www.nydailynews.com/ny%5Flocal/2010/09/19/2010-09-19%5Fchip%5Fway%5Fway%5Foff%5Fsays%5Fthe%5Fold%5Fblock.html?ref=bklyner.com). If you haven’t seen it yet, they did a story about the [Corbin Place house I blasted](/update-corbin-places-house-of-fugly/) last week for being out-of-character. And I’m not so happy with the story.

It’s not a critique about the reporter. It’s just that I didn’t think the story merited citywide attention (though the issue does), and thought her efforts would be better spent elsewhere. I also didn’t realize we were speaking for quotation – I thought the reporter wanted background – but that’s more my fault than hers.

Honestly, though, my problem with the story is that I felt for the family whose home it is. I spent most of my conversation with the reporter trying to convince her that it wasn’t worth it to put this family in the spotlight. Apparently I failed.

Yes, it’s an ugly house and scars the block, in my opinion. But I highlighted it to spark discussion about the larger issue (the absence of aesthetic considerations in zoning laws), not to shame the family. And yes, I threw a barb their way for humor’s sake, but I do wish them the best of luck.

So, this is my open thread today – sharing my regret that the story brought so much attention to a family just trying to enjoy their home. So, if they’re reading this, I apologize. I do hope we, as a community, can have this conversation. But the vitriol and the spotlight shouldn’t be pointed at you.