Architectural Tragedy on Jefferson Street
I was heading for the J yesterday and was shocked to see my absolute favorite house in Bushwick being dismantled. The house reminded me of a haunted mansion in miniature, though at one time most houses in the neighborhood looked similar. I loved that even the original shingles remained, all the woodwork preserved under a thousand layers of paint. Two creepy birdhouses tilted in front like guards, as if they knew the house was in danger.
Another house a few doors down, a squat brick box, was also taken down until only a short rim of bricks remained. I snagged one of the smaller cornices from it in a neighbor’s car. It was sad, but the house was already in major disrepair and half-covered by plywood — the loss was less obvious.
This beautiful green house stood in perfect contrast to the 1930s-40s brick homes on either side, and the other architecturally compromised structures on the block. I walked by that house and smiled every time, taking pleasure in some or other detail in the woodwork. And today it’s raining inside what remains.
Of all the available spots in Bushwick, they had to pick the best house and knock it down for some stuccoed shitshack that I’m sure is to come. It’s not even a particularly nice or popular street — the house faces a cinderblock warehouse. The hideous 76 Jefferson lies fallow up near Evergreen. The only charm on the block is being systematically bulldozed.
I feel sick over this. Bushwick already isn’t much in the architecture department.
If anyone has any history to share about this house or block, please do.
May 9th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Oh that is a real bummer. I loved that house too. It was truly one of a kind.
May 9th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
OMG! I noticed this house last week and admired the heavy trim. It’s easy to identify because of the crazy birdhouses.
Note to “improvers” in Bushwick: If you take a tour of the very expensive West Village, you will see that every single house has its original doors and none have little metal canopies over the door.
May 9th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
This is depressing. We need landmark status.
May 9th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
maybe someday a developer will see the value in maintaining, in some form, the sightlines and styling of buildings like this one. you could build an entirely new house and just use the same lintels and whatnot and the exterior, at least, would be appealing.
cinderblock warehouse? don’t you mean, ‘future site of luxury loft condos’?
May 9th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
No, I think it actually IS a warehouse made out of cinder block. Recently built.
May 11th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Unfortunately, the architectural character of places like these is weighed out against possible profits from the underlying space. In cases like these, you can always call Olde Good Things. Architectural salvage is our business. We save what we can so it can be used in future structures. Cheers, eh!
May 16th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Oh closer inspection the other day, it seems the house might have burned. It’s sad, all that house needed was someone to buy it and love it.
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:37 am
Scene 2042 A.D.: I was walking down the street and realized they were tearing down those beautiful red brick houses which were adorned with those lovely Fedders Air Conditioners.
You people sound like the most snooty homeowners association in Santa Fe or Greenwich,CT. People are allowed to buy properties and redevelop them.
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:49 am
Nobody said they weren’t allowed. Bad taste and disdain for history aren’t banned qualities. We liked the house, we’re sorry to see it get knocked down for another shitbox building, especially considering the ample supply of vacant lots in the neighborhood.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:41 am
Well put, Jeremy.