In his critically acclaimed memoir, Harpo Speaks, the long-silent Marx Brother spoke eloquently and lovingly about his beloved childhood home in NYC, the block & house that the brothers called 'home sweet home'.
Now that the block is endangered by demolition, Harpo speaks out again for Marx Brothers Place on YouTube!!!
Please click on this link and check out Harpo Marx in person: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU68eslaLP0
Thanks for your continued support of our ongoing campaign to help protect and preserve historic Marx Brothers Place in Carnegie Hill NYC!!!
Showing posts with label Extend Carnegie Hill Historic District. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Extend Carnegie Hill Historic District. Show all posts
Monday, April 20, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Carnegie Hill Says NO to Baker's Dozen !
Please cut & paste & send the message below to BSA prior to the January 27, 2009 Public Hearing by Regular Mail or Email: http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mailbsa.html with a copy to: 93rdst.beautification@gmail.com.
Ms. Meenakshi Srinivisaan
Chair, NYC Board of Standards & Appeals
40 Rector Street, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10006
Re: BSA Calendar # 162-08-BZ: 150 East 93 Street, Manhattan NYC
Dear Madame Chair,
I strongly object to the proposal to construct a Penthouse on top of the Penthouse which already sits on top of the roof at 150 East 93rd Street in Carnegie Hill NYC for the following reasons:
1.) the proposal threatens the historic character of this storied NYC neighborhood so rich in cultural and architectural history; 2.) the proposed addition literally faces the Carnegie Hill Historic District and thus threatens the historic integrity and property value of the CHHD; 3.) the proposal is completely out of scale & context with this historic block of 19th century houses & gardens which includes the beloved childhood home of the Marx Brothers; 4.) the proposed penthouse would completely overshadow the collection of four-story 19th century townhouses & gardens which 150E93 abuts and which is the indisputable Rosetta Stone to any credible development history of Carnegie Hill having been built prior to the Lexington Avenue extension and being older than any of the brownstones already in the CHHD; 5.) the proposal would constitute a precedent-setting breach of the historic skyline on this ancient block; 6.) the proposed project would impact the environment, including the flora & fauna resident to the collection of gardens 150E93 abuts, and the penthouse owner has failed to comply with the applicable environmental laws which require an EIS; 7.) the penthouse owner has failed to provide a structural engineering report to determine whether 150E93 could even support another floor which would, in fact, constitute the 13th story on an eleven story building in Carnegie Hill.
For all of the foregoing reasons, the applicant's request for a Special Permit must be denied.
Respectfully submitted,
(Please add your name & address)
Ms. Meenakshi Srinivisaan
Chair, NYC Board of Standards & Appeals
40 Rector Street, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10006
Re: BSA Calendar # 162-08-BZ: 150 East 93 Street, Manhattan NYC
Dear Madame Chair,
I strongly object to the proposal to construct a Penthouse on top of the Penthouse which already sits on top of the roof at 150 East 93rd Street in Carnegie Hill NYC for the following reasons:
1.) the proposal threatens the historic character of this storied NYC neighborhood so rich in cultural and architectural history; 2.) the proposed addition literally faces the Carnegie Hill Historic District and thus threatens the historic integrity and property value of the CHHD; 3.) the proposal is completely out of scale & context with this historic block of 19th century houses & gardens which includes the beloved childhood home of the Marx Brothers; 4.) the proposed penthouse would completely overshadow the collection of four-story 19th century townhouses & gardens which 150E93 abuts and which is the indisputable Rosetta Stone to any credible development history of Carnegie Hill having been built prior to the Lexington Avenue extension and being older than any of the brownstones already in the CHHD; 5.) the proposal would constitute a precedent-setting breach of the historic skyline on this ancient block; 6.) the proposed project would impact the environment, including the flora & fauna resident to the collection of gardens 150E93 abuts, and the penthouse owner has failed to comply with the applicable environmental laws which require an EIS; 7.) the penthouse owner has failed to provide a structural engineering report to determine whether 150E93 could even support another floor which would, in fact, constitute the 13th story on an eleven story building in Carnegie Hill.
For all of the foregoing reasons, the applicant's request for a Special Permit must be denied.
Respectfully submitted,
(Please add your name & address)
Saturday, December 13, 2008
If These Houses Could Talk !
Because what the penthouse owner at 150E93 wants to do - construct a second penthouse atop his extant penthouse on historic Marx Brothers Place - is not legal (and was even disapproved by the NYC Department of Buildings), he must now ask the NYC Board of Standards & Appeals (BSA) for a special exception to the law. Please let BSA know that you object to this penthouse proposal: http://the-marx-brothers-place-report.blogspot.com/2008/12/email-your-objections-to-penthouse.html.
The penthouse owner, who also happens to serve as the Co-Op Board President at 150E93 and is a well-known NYC General Contractor, should finally be denied his request for a special permit. While CB8 failed to do its job by approving this controversial penthouse proposal without considering the impact on the affected neighborhood, NYC's BSA now has an opportunity to set things right.
There's a whole host of reasons why BSA should not grant this special permit, not the least of which is because the penthouse proposal is completely out-of-scale and context with the neighborhood and threatens its unique historic character.
Whether the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) has yet or ever will include this block in the Carnegie Hill Historic District (CHHD) as it should, such designation, or lack thereof, in no way detracts from the actual history of the block.
Before ever approving a variance from the zoning code, CB8 is required by law to take into account the impact of any such proposal on the special character of the neighborhood to be affected. So, had CB8 actually done its job, the applicant would never have gotten as far as BSA. But alas, expecting CB8 to do its job is much like expecting snow in Gotham in the middle of August - not gonna happen !
Nonetheless, the fact remains that, as a matter of public record, CB8 and LPC were provided copies of the Request for Evaluation (RFE) asking the City to extend the CHHD one block east to include historic Marx Brothers Place (the RFE was delivered to both on September 8, 2008). So CB8 & LPC were both fully apprised of the fact that this block is the indisputable Rosetta Stone to any credible understanding of the development history of Carnegie Hill, and as such must be vigilantly protected as an indispensable chapter in NYC history.
Clearly, to grant a special permit in variance from the NYC zoning code under these circumstances would cause unnecessary and significant harm to the unique historic character of the affected neighborhood. Ergo, CB8 has no legitimate excuse for having cleared the applicant through the first hurdle in his quest to tower up above the historic skyline of Marx Brothers Place.
In addition to the fact that brownstones on this block are older than any of the brownstones that already enjoy the protection of the CHHD (in fact, they were built in 1864 even before Lexington Avenue stretched this far north!), East 93rd Street is world-renowned as a mecca for Marx Brothers fans who make regular pilgrimages to stand on the steps of the beloved childhood home of these celebrated comic geniuses.
Both CB8 and LPC also know from the RFE that the Marx Brothers are not the only famous NYC team of siblings to have a deep and abiding connection to this remarkable collection of historic 19th century homes.
The Loew Brothers, Frederick (a judge & NYC Register) and Edward (deeply involved in NYC politics & business), built 184 & 186 East 93rd Street in 1875. The Loew family continued to own both of these extant houses throughout the period of time that the Brothers' political dealings were frequently splashed across the pages of the newspapers, having become embroiled in one political scandal or another, due to their close association with the notorious Tammany Hall.
And it just might have been the well-connected Loew Brothers who prompted another well-known New Yorker, William Orth, to purchase the house right next door at 182 East 93rd Street which was designed by architect E.D. Gornsey in 1880, just one year before the Marx Brothers House was built across the street.
Sadly, the Orth house at 182 East 93rd Street was razed to rubble in March 2008. The house was one of three ornate side-by-side sister houses for which CB8 gave its blessings to a developer to demolish over the strong objections of the neighborhood.
And once the NYC DOB granted the requisite Demolition Permit, the slippery slope of zoning irregularities triggered by CB8's tacit approval, gave birth to a mid-block incursion expressly prohibited in R8B Zoning (the zoning designation to which this block belongs). Time and time again, CB8 has failed this block, failed this city's historically significant inventory, failed this city's zoning goals and failed this neighborhood.
So please don't let CB8 get away with this ! Let BSA hear from you at the Public Hearing - Tuesday, December 16th !
And remember, if you can't make it in person, please send your objections regarding the penthouse proposal for historic Marx Brothers Place via EMAIL by clicking on this link:
http://the-marx-brothers-place-report.blogspot.com/2008/12/email-your-objections-to-penthouse.html.
ALL OBJECTIONS MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: BSA Calendar Number - 162-08-BZ, Property ID - 150 East 93rd Street, Block 1521, Lot 51, Manhattan.
Thanks for your continued interest in historic Marx Brothers Place !
The penthouse owner, who also happens to serve as the Co-Op Board President at 150E93 and is a well-known NYC General Contractor, should finally be denied his request for a special permit. While CB8 failed to do its job by approving this controversial penthouse proposal without considering the impact on the affected neighborhood, NYC's BSA now has an opportunity to set things right.
There's a whole host of reasons why BSA should not grant this special permit, not the least of which is because the penthouse proposal is completely out-of-scale and context with the neighborhood and threatens its unique historic character.
Whether the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) has yet or ever will include this block in the Carnegie Hill Historic District (CHHD) as it should, such designation, or lack thereof, in no way detracts from the actual history of the block.
Before ever approving a variance from the zoning code, CB8 is required by law to take into account the impact of any such proposal on the special character of the neighborhood to be affected. So, had CB8 actually done its job, the applicant would never have gotten as far as BSA. But alas, expecting CB8 to do its job is much like expecting snow in Gotham in the middle of August - not gonna happen !
Nonetheless, the fact remains that, as a matter of public record, CB8 and LPC were provided copies of the Request for Evaluation (RFE) asking the City to extend the CHHD one block east to include historic Marx Brothers Place (the RFE was delivered to both on September 8, 2008). So CB8 & LPC were both fully apprised of the fact that this block is the indisputable Rosetta Stone to any credible understanding of the development history of Carnegie Hill, and as such must be vigilantly protected as an indispensable chapter in NYC history.
Clearly, to grant a special permit in variance from the NYC zoning code under these circumstances would cause unnecessary and significant harm to the unique historic character of the affected neighborhood. Ergo, CB8 has no legitimate excuse for having cleared the applicant through the first hurdle in his quest to tower up above the historic skyline of Marx Brothers Place.
In addition to the fact that brownstones on this block are older than any of the brownstones that already enjoy the protection of the CHHD (in fact, they were built in 1864 even before Lexington Avenue stretched this far north!), East 93rd Street is world-renowned as a mecca for Marx Brothers fans who make regular pilgrimages to stand on the steps of the beloved childhood home of these celebrated comic geniuses.
Both CB8 and LPC also know from the RFE that the Marx Brothers are not the only famous NYC team of siblings to have a deep and abiding connection to this remarkable collection of historic 19th century homes.
The Loew Brothers, Frederick (a judge & NYC Register) and Edward (deeply involved in NYC politics & business), built 184 & 186 East 93rd Street in 1875. The Loew family continued to own both of these extant houses throughout the period of time that the Brothers' political dealings were frequently splashed across the pages of the newspapers, having become embroiled in one political scandal or another, due to their close association with the notorious Tammany Hall.
And it just might have been the well-connected Loew Brothers who prompted another well-known New Yorker, William Orth, to purchase the house right next door at 182 East 93rd Street which was designed by architect E.D. Gornsey in 1880, just one year before the Marx Brothers House was built across the street.
Sadly, the Orth house at 182 East 93rd Street was razed to rubble in March 2008. The house was one of three ornate side-by-side sister houses for which CB8 gave its blessings to a developer to demolish over the strong objections of the neighborhood.
And once the NYC DOB granted the requisite Demolition Permit, the slippery slope of zoning irregularities triggered by CB8's tacit approval, gave birth to a mid-block incursion expressly prohibited in R8B Zoning (the zoning designation to which this block belongs). Time and time again, CB8 has failed this block, failed this city's historically significant inventory, failed this city's zoning goals and failed this neighborhood.
So please don't let CB8 get away with this ! Let BSA hear from you at the Public Hearing - Tuesday, December 16th !
And remember, if you can't make it in person, please send your objections regarding the penthouse proposal for historic Marx Brothers Place via EMAIL by clicking on this link:
http://the-marx-brothers-place-report.blogspot.com/2008/12/email-your-objections-to-penthouse.html.
ALL OBJECTIONS MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: BSA Calendar Number - 162-08-BZ, Property ID - 150 East 93rd Street, Block 1521, Lot 51, Manhattan.
Thanks for your continued interest in historic Marx Brothers Place !
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
The Urgency of our History is NOW !
Unless NYC's elected officials do something fast, other than vote to extend their own term limits again, the remarkable charm, historic character and incomparable significance of the city's most storied neighborhoods will be ripped right from the pages of Gotham's much vaunted history just as though these chapters so rich in our collective cultural experience had been banned, censored or burned.
Clearly, we need a little magic. Perhaps a political rabbit pulled from a top hat in the eleventh hour. Seems fitting under these dire circumstances to invoke Lewis Carroll, a man who knew a thing or two about magic and rabbits, both literary and real. In a slightly different sort of odyssey, Carroll famously wrote, "the time has come the Walrus said, to speak of many things...". And here those "things" necessarily include the much-needed legal protection that the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission can and should extend to the irreplaceable historic inventory of 19th century houses on Marx Brothers Place.
Indeed, the time has come. And as you will read in this story, posted on The Clyde Fitch Report, the urgency of our history is now: http://clydefitch.blogspot.com/2008/12/could-dream-of-marx-brothers-place-be.html.
Please help Save Marx Brothers Place !
Clearly, we need a little magic. Perhaps a political rabbit pulled from a top hat in the eleventh hour. Seems fitting under these dire circumstances to invoke Lewis Carroll, a man who knew a thing or two about magic and rabbits, both literary and real. In a slightly different sort of odyssey, Carroll famously wrote, "the time has come the Walrus said, to speak of many things...". And here those "things" necessarily include the much-needed legal protection that the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission can and should extend to the irreplaceable historic inventory of 19th century houses on Marx Brothers Place.
Indeed, the time has come. And as you will read in this story, posted on The Clyde Fitch Report, the urgency of our history is now: http://clydefitch.blogspot.com/2008/12/could-dream-of-marx-brothers-place-be.html.
Please help Save Marx Brothers Place !
Monday, November 10, 2008
Sample Letter Supporting Marx Brothers Place
Please cut & paste the following letter and send by REGULAR MAIL or EMAIL to NYC LPC; Mayor Bloomberg, Council Member Garodnick & the Manhattan Borough President at: comments@lpc.nyc.gov, ljackson@cityhall.nyc.gov, garodnickoffice@gmail.com, bp@manhattanbp.org. And please be sure to send a copy to us at 93rdst.beautification@gmail.com so we can keep track of all the letters. Thanks!!!
The Honorable Robert B. Tierney
Chair, NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission
One Centre Street, 9th Floor North
New York, NY 10007
Re: Please Calendar the Request For Evaluation to extend Carnegie Hill Historic District 1 block east on 93rd Street
Dear Chairman Tierney,
I am writing in support of the Request for Evaluation submitted by the 93rd Street Beautification Association asking that the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission extend the Carnegie Hill Historic District (CHHD) one block east so as to include the historic collection of 19th century houses on 93rd Street between Lexington and Third Avenues which includes the world-famous childhood home of the Marx Brothers, and brownstones that are older than any of the ones already within the protection of the CHHD.
Please calendar this important RFE as soon as possible. As a community, we all have a duty to ensure that this incomparable historic block is preserved in order to protect NYC's city's economic and cultural future. It is imperative that the Commission act swiftly in fulfilling this duty.
Respectfully submitted,
(please add your name & address here)
The Honorable Robert B. Tierney
Chair, NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission
One Centre Street, 9th Floor North
New York, NY 10007
Re: Please Calendar the Request For Evaluation to extend Carnegie Hill Historic District 1 block east on 93rd Street
Dear Chairman Tierney,
I am writing in support of the Request for Evaluation submitted by the 93rd Street Beautification Association asking that the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission extend the Carnegie Hill Historic District (CHHD) one block east so as to include the historic collection of 19th century houses on 93rd Street between Lexington and Third Avenues which includes the world-famous childhood home of the Marx Brothers, and brownstones that are older than any of the ones already within the protection of the CHHD.
Please calendar this important RFE as soon as possible. As a community, we all have a duty to ensure that this incomparable historic block is preserved in order to protect NYC's city's economic and cultural future. It is imperative that the Commission act swiftly in fulfilling this duty.
Respectfully submitted,
(please add your name & address here)
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