Two blocks in Bedford-Stuyvesant were recently given landmark statuses, much to the chagrin of the frum residents who oppose the decision feeling it targeted those with larger families who would need to expand the houses.
By Anash.org reporter
Last week, two blocks of brownstone homes in Bedford-Stuyvesant were unanimously approved for landmark status by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission. This decision came out after frum residents vehemently opposed the proposed plans because it would force them out of their homes when their family outgrew it and wouldn’t be allowed the permits to further expand.
Despite the opposition, the plan was approved and the area was consequently renamed and established as the Willoughby-Hart Historic District. The homes that were given landmark status were built 150 years ago and stand out for the quality of their architecture, strong historic character, and sense of place of their streetscapes. Many of the current residents living there have owned the homes for generations.
The lawyer who represented the frum community, Adam Leitman Bailey, wrote to the commission: “The proposed districting will all but guarantee that the permits required to undertake such work will be, if not outright rejected, made subject to undue scrutiny, delay, and unnecessary expense. This result, likely to drive out this religious group in a time of a housing crisis in the City of New York, offends the purpose underlying landmark status and should not be countenanced.”
The Yidden protesting the ruling called it out as anti-Semitic and strongly fear the landmark status mark was placed in an attempt to keep the frum families that live nearby at bay, to keep them from expanding into the further territories. Many see the decision as a calculated move that is prejudiced to the frum community and are concerned that other blocks in different area in Brooklyn will be affected in the future.
Eric Adams “City of Yes” is a pending city-wide zoning proposal that will increase the livable space (FAR) in buildings, which can result in incentivizing tear downs to build condos/co-ops, and making backyard sheds into ADU (accessory dwelling units). The intent of the landmark status may have been more to retain the esthetic architectural quality of the neighborhood, backyard sunlight and a pleasant breeze, rather than animosity towards Frum Jews. I think the homeowners wishing to retain neighborhood character would have done the same if the new owners were Spanish or Muslim. While a few individual homeowners may be happy with getting more space, many other homeowners may be concerned with homeowners being replaced by renters and out of scale chopped up buildings, so that’s why they probably landmarked. That’s not to say that those who live on the block don’t want Williamsburg Jews spilling into their neighborhood, but you just don’t know that.
You obviously do not live in neighborhood.
The neighbors primary goal is to harass the Satmar Jews. They bring trash to their doors. They scream anti-Semitic insults. The government gathers and plans ways “to get them.” They rather have their properties go down in value tremendously with a landmarking district than have their Jewish neighbors keep expanding their homes. Their hatred for the Jews outweighs their pocketbooks. Welcome to 1939 in 2024. Be afraid.