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• In response to your above posting, I would like to clarify a few issues. The 5 remaining townhouses on the west side of 72nd Ave can be proposed & designated as a historic district, rather than landmarking 5 individually. According to the NYC Landmarks Law, a historic district can be comprised of even a few properties, which portray a particular style, or a number of styles. For example, take Ridgewood’s Stockholm St, which is a historic district consisting of brownstones in the single digits. It would also be more efficient designating the FH townhouses as a whole than individually.

  As for your question regarding future historic districts, if any section is designated, it would NOT restrict new development. It would ensure that such developments are consistent with the existing architectural styles & character of the neighborhood, as well as halt inappropriate alterations & demolitions of properties which form the core of the district. In turn, this would increase property values, qualify owners for tax credits & grants where applicable, and increase the appeal, sustainability, and pride of living in Forest Hills, or any other neighborhood with a recognizable history. I would also like to add that buildings which clearly do not portray any style in respect to the block, would be classified under the law as “No Style” buildings, and would be greater candidates for demolition & sensible new developments. If you would like to converse about this further, please e-mail me.

  Posted by Rego-Forest Preservation Council, Chair Michael Perlman
  on July 17th, 2007 at 3:04 am

• P.S. For those of you who have any questions, or would be interested in joining Rego-Forest Preservation Council in our campaign to defend the character of Forest Hills & Rego Park, please e-mail unlockthevault@hotmail.com. A brief interview is your application to join. No fees required.

  Posted by Rego-Forest Preservation Council, Chair Michael Perlman
  on July 17th, 2007 at 4:52 pm

• Disagree with keeping those townhomes in tact and of creation of a historic district. Forest Hills is NOT anything of TRUE HISTORIC VALUE. In fact, Ridgewood Savings bank SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NAMED A HISTORIC SITE and instead should have been knocked down to make way for a new highrise with ridgewood bank to be kept underneath as part of the community.

  Don’t screw up FOREST HILLS yet again for Townhomes which have NO USE FOR FOREST HILLS. We need offices and/or highrise properties over there and need those townhomes knocked down to make way for the new. New construction ALWAYS has to be made part and parcel to the community just like the Windsor had to be.

  Posted by aj023
  on July 17th, 2007 at 5:43 pm

• Not sure if Landmark Status and Historic district are the same but I used the terms interchangably since either way you want to keep something in tact that SHOULD BE KNOCKED DOWN.

  Posted by aj023
  on July 17th, 2007 at 5:44 pm

• Anyone care to join a Protest against Michael Perlman?

  Posted by aj023
  on July 17th, 2007 at 5:45 pm

• AJ023, You are humbly reminded again to refrain from drawing negative attention to yourself. A protest of any sort would not be prudent at this time.

  Your ideas to turn Queens Blvd. into a freeway, develop the prime Parker/Gerald Towers area, and convert the 112th precinct into luxury condominiums will NOT benefit from undue negative attention.

  So please. I am having an extremely difficult time convincing investors as it is.

  Posted by West
  on July 17th, 2007 at 6:43 pm

• West: Please stop joking around since your scaring people off including my self. Pearlman is a real person as were my own statements.

  I don’t have time to respond to your jokingly comments further since your amusement time has worn off.

  Posted by aj023
  on July 17th, 2007 at 9:10 pm

• Aj023, all I can say is that my group & I do not have time to deal with your shenanigans. This is a blog where the public provides commentary, but your comments on this thread & others are often absurd, & lack the maturity of most Queens Central bloggers. Blogger West’s comments are constructive criticism, but you can’t accept it.

  Posted by Rego-Forest Preservation Council, Chair Michael Perlman
  on July 17th, 2007 at 10:56 pm

• Mr. Perlman, The behavior that you have witnessed is not typical of other contributors on this site, and I apologize on everyone’s behalf.

  Aj023 is certainly entitled to his opinion on the matter, but I think his approach and tact needs work.

  I respect and support your efforts in trying to preserve what little history we have. It is often easier to forget the old, and move onto the new. I am also mindful that change is inevitable, and accomodations should be made to reflect current times. It is the delicate balance between old and new which causes a clash of interests, and brings out the best and worst in people.

  Posted by West
  on July 17th, 2007 at 11:59 pm

• Thank you for defense, West! I also appreciate your support. Ajo23 is indeed entitled to his opinion, but has to learn to be more civil. It is true that change is inevitable, but there are superb methods of maintaining & adaptively reusing historic buildings, as evident in many parts of the U.S. & the world. Preservation & development can coexist, if the right developers and architects step up. Here, however, it seems as if they are just eager to make big bucks, even if it shortchanges the community, is aesthetically appalling, or violates building codes.

  Posted by Rego-Forest Preservation Council, Chair Michael Perlman
  on July 18th, 2007 at 2:36 am

• Actually Mr. Pearlman, hopefully now development will move quicker to preempt your mission to destroy the community. I will ACTIVELY work with Dakota Realty to make sure this property is sold AS quick as possible. It is perfect location for a new HIGHRISE complex (Offices, residential or a combination thereof).

  Posted by aj023
  on July 18th, 2007 at 1:21 pm

• I believe all 5 of those propertys should be sold in one shot deal by a developer willing to step up to the plate. That would be the BEST outcome for residents AND owners of those properties as well since they will stand to make a hefty profit from their initial investment and be able to live nicer as well.

  Posted by aj023
  on July 18th, 2007 at 1:29 pm

• You just don’t seem to UNDERSTAND what Forest Hills is about. Your passion about some old buildings which are NOT even in their original shape which could be put to better use because of lack of space and fill the density further is mind boggling.

  Maybe Cord Meyer will step up to the plate on this one and build the Windsor 2 over there.

  Posted by aj023
  on July 18th, 2007 at 1:31 pm

• Trying to use this forum to drum up support for something like this is very shameful.

  Posted by aj023
  on July 18th, 2007 at 1:33 pm

• I agree with Steve. It is a VERY BAD idea indeed. The 5 buildings no longer represent the current needs of Forest Hills and are nothing of value. I have a STRONG FEELING that no protest will be needed and a historic district will NOT be declared for those properties at any rate. The location is prime Forest Hills and think about what could be used in its place if those initial tenants were relocated (with nice profits to boot, they aren’t going away empty handed at all)

  Posted by aj023
  on July 18th, 2007 at 1:40 pm

• If I was a developer myself, I would buy out all 5 properties and see if I could get zoning for a new retail/residential complex.

  Posted by aj023
  on July 18th, 2007 at 1:42 pm

• AJ023, I don’t want to live surrounded by bland highrises like Gerard Towers. I get sad when I walk over there. The car dealership, the dirty S&B warehouse, the Medical scam facility, the bitch cashiers who openly yell at the customers at Key Food. The whole depressing area makes me run back to AQUA.

  As far as the townhouses, this is the perfect, I’m sorry, PERFECT forum to discuss them. I believe they should be perserved as that look is really what Forest Hills is about. Plus, they wouldn’t build a Windsor there, they’d build a five story medical pavillion. We can’t let the East side of Continental turn into Elmhurst.

  Forest Hills 72 (and I’ve been in frequent contact with Perlman) supports the preservation of the townhouses.

  Posted by Foresthillsblog
  on July 18th, 2007 at 1:50 pm

• Good Afternoon, AJ.

  I said….Good Afternoon.

  Posted by West
  on July 18th, 2007 at 2:02 pm

• Thank you, Forest Hills 72, for standing up for me & my group, and for posting a wise reply!

  Posted by Rego-Forest Preservation Council, Chair Michael Perlman
  on July 18th, 2007 at 6:03 pm

• AJ

  You are clearly out of touch with most of the rest of Forest Hills. You at one point remarked that you believe Gerard Towers was a beautiful building. It is the second ugliest building in Forest Hills, only because of its obese ugly sister - Parker Towers. You want Forest Hills to be more like Yellowstone south of QB. It would be a sad day if Forest Hills began to resemble the area around Parker Towers in any respect.

  Posted by Anonymous
  on July 18th, 2007 at 7:57 pm

• He is not out of touch. He is out of his mind.
  Apparently, he also seems to be out of the medication that he should be taking.

  Posted by Anonymous
  on July 18th, 2007 at 8:43 pm

• AJ doesn’t actually like Forest Hills. He wishes he could live in Manhattan. He wants FH to be like Manhattan.

  Posted by flocat
  on July 18th, 2007 at 8:53 pm

• I live in Gerard Towers and agree that it’s ugly. We moved in for the amenities, like the gym and the pool, not for the look of the building. I think it’s the ugliest part of Forest Hills, the part with Gerard and Parker Towers. I think that most of Forest Hills is charming, just not the blocks around where I live. I love that I can walk a few blocks and be in the Gardens and other more charming areas.

  Unlike aj, I’m glad that this is not Manhattan and appreciate the difference.

  Posted by judy
  on July 18th, 2007 at 11:38 pm

• AJ is one obsessive character. See how many postings he made every few mins?

  Posted by millie
  on July 19th, 2007 at 1:33 am

• Welcome to the Internet! Somebody photographed every single page of the last Harry Potter book yesterday.

  Posted by Steve
  on July 19th, 2007 at 1:36 am

• “I will ACTIVELY work with Dakota Realty to make sure this property is sold AS quick as possible.”

  Actually, that is not a bad idea.

  Posted by West
  on July 19th, 2007 at 7:54 am

• I meant for someone to BUY the Dakota Realty property AND the property being sold by Massey Knakal Realty Services.

  Posted by aj023
  on July 19th, 2007 at 12:04 pm

• Listen, I am only one voice out here and if the majority want these buildings preserved then that is what will happen. But the vast majority are a: Not on this forum. And b: I will bet they will want new housing in Forest Hills because Manhattan prices are going through the roof and/or new stores/offices/whatever to go to.

  The low rise nature of these buildings is what is really the issue since they are in a GREAT LOCATION and if sold as a 5 in 1 deal, would be great for the community at large for the LONG term because the space at the top is being wasted. The days are long gone when Forest Hills had the workmen for the town living in these locations. The buildings are also not in the best of shape and doesn’t represent anything of historical interest which really affected American history. Local workers for an individual town and a building created for them doesn’t in my mind qualify as anything worth preserving.

  Had there had been a SIGNIFICANT event that happened at this location or something else that rose to the level to warrant of historical preservation that would be fine. There ARE Landmark districts in Manhattan for instance where BUILDINGS ARE appropriately landmarked and preserved. But these 5 buildings don’t cut the mustard for such..

  Posted by aj023
  on July 19th, 2007 at 12:12 pm

• Advertisement

  “We received an official request for an evaluation, went out and took pictures, and we’re waiting for the final evaluation” from the Landmarks Preservation Commission, said a spokesman for Katz.

  But Landmarks Preservation Commission spokeswoman Lisi de Bourbon said the row houses will not be landmarked.

  “We reviewed the proposal and determined they didn’t rise to the level of a historic district,” she said Tuesday.

  Thank you!!!!

  Posted by Anonymous
  on July 19th, 2007 at 1:46 pm

• Victory has been declared. No protest needed. My judgement was based on an analysis of the facts and landmark commission was dead on here.

  Posted by AJ023
  on July 19th, 2007 at 1:47 pm

• http://www.timesledger.com/sit.....&rfi=6

  For the full article.

  Posted by AJ023
  on July 19th, 2007 at 2:04 pm

• The show is over here. Nothing else to see. Run along folks.

  Posted by AJ023
  on July 19th, 2007 at 2:11 pm

• Ever go to London? France? How about Boston? Ever walk down Madison Ave above the 60’s? Park Avenue? How about the Wall St. area?

  Modern architecture CAN COEXIST with historical structures as shown by the examples above.

  I think the buildings should be saved. I’ll agree that they are not in their best of condition, but they can be restored by making more modern appointments. If the facades were restored to original details, I think it will add character and appeal to the area.

  I can’t see how more cheap looking office/medical/apartment buildings would liven the area up.

  Posted by West
  on July 19th, 2007 at 2:35 pm

• Who would pay to restore these buildings? Would you expect them to be used as residences? I don’t know if they would be marketable for that purpose. If they were to be used for retail businesses, it might be too costly to maintain. It is nice to say we should keep these townhouses as is, but you must have a plan for a reasonable means to pay for, maintain and use these properties if you want to make that argument.

  Posted by Peter
  on July 19th, 2007 at 2:51 pm

• People are willing to restore and maintain similar townhouses, both as residences and businesses, in seemingly every neighborhood in New York except this one. I don’t see why Forest Hills is so special. Nobody needs a plan. The only plan has to be It’s Illegal to Tear Them Down, and then capitalism magically takes care of the rest. And by the way, I don’t even think they need to be restored — they look like they’re in fine condition to me.

  Posted by Steve
  on July 19th, 2007 at 2:56 pm

• Do you have any concrete examples of similar townhouses in other neighborhoods that have been restored and maintained like you propose? If there was such a demand for these townhouses, why would we even be having this discussion? Why aren’t they being used for some desirable purpose right now? Sure you can say, Just Make it Illegal to Tear Them Down and a developer will maximize their use somehow. Maybe they would carve them up into four rental units each, or maybe they would rent them to 99-cent stores, or even let those street vendors that no one likes work out of them. Or maybe the owners would not think any restoration is worth the cost and let them sit abandoned and take a tax deduction. I can point out examples of those types of situations that happen in other neighborhoods. We really should think all of these things through for the best outcome and not just jump to a pie-in-the-sky answer and righteously shove it down people’s throats.

  Posted by Peter
  on July 19th, 2007 at 3:29 pm

• I’m ambivalent about the townhouses, but just want to say that I haven’t felt any shoving.

  Posted by flocat
  on July 19th, 2007 at 3:38 pm

• My previous comments apply. Manhattan DOES have TOWNHOMES preserved historically BECAUSE they were BEAUTIFULLY constructed buildings which could NOT be replicated had they been torn down. They were of SUBSTANTIAL significance, by the buildings architects AND designers. The buildings in Forest Hills are just typical ROW Houses that you have throughout Queens.

  Notice how people fergot: Cord Meyer Company Continental is erected (four stories high). It was later demolished and 70-20 108 th Street put up back in 1927. Cord Meyer has had plenty of its original buildings knocked down. Anyone CAN replicate these ROW homes today, and they just don’t serve the needs of the community any longer.

  In Manhattan, you have older homes which ARE Preserved because they are of such architectural significance and use materals which cant be easily replicated and everything inbetween. Or if something of such historic influence happened as well that the building had to be preserved. While I disagree with the Ridgewood Savings Bank for being kept in place, it did represent something MORESO of architectural significance because of the building design which would be HARDER TO REPLICATE.

  Posted by AJ023
  on July 19th, 2007 at 3:39 pm

• Those townhouses are very typical of the early 20th century, when they were built. Nobody builds anything that looks like them anymore, ever.

  AJ, your sudden dislike of the Ridgewood Savings Bank honestly makes me wonder if you’re just kidding. I bet you can’t find a single other person in this neighborhood who doesn’t like that building. Sometimes you see it in establishing shots on TV shows.

  Posted by Steve
  on July 19th, 2007 at 3:44 pm

• Those townhouses are very typical of the early 20th century, when they were built. Nobody builds anything that looks like them anymore, ever.

  That was NOT the point. As you said, they were buildings typical of the early 20th century. The buildings that ARE preserved are ATYPICAL because they have features and architectural artifacts which were special or required such to be preserved.

  I am ALL FOR preserving homes that meet the high standards of preservation. Case in point:

  http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/do....._26_07.pdf

  They were designed by Henry Wright and Clarence Stein, a reform-minded architect who helped design
  Temple Emanu-El and St. Bartholomew’s Church in Manhattan, the massive development sought to
  combine elements of rural and urban living.

  But what would you say about these townhomes? That they were the first homes of the OLD Forest Hills era where workers lived when Whitepot was created? It just didn’t cut the mustard.

  Even these were nice older buildings in top shape that also needed to be preserved:

  http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/do.....tation.pdf

  I am agreeing with all the moves of the landmark commission because all those buildings on the list made sense to landmark as seen here:

  http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/html/home/home.shtml

  Manhattan and Queens have tons of landmarked homes which DO qualify.

  Posted by aj023
  on July 19th, 2007 at 4:44 pm

• Neighborhoods all over the city have found an interest in maintaining at least some form of historical character. My question, where is this in Forest Hills?

  Many parts of Brooklyn became increasingly popular the past couple of years. It enjoys modern development, but has also has strong interests in maintaining older structures. Some of these structures were in varying conditions of maintenance, and usually in questionable areas. Still, most areas were able to obtain landmark and historic status. The interest to maintain seem to come from private individuals and investors. Their uniqueness made them desireable.

  Should we keep them? I think the few is not unreasonable. Residential would be a hard sell for me, but I can see commercial and specialty retail. The facades would need to be fully restored, and by restored, I mean to circa 1900’s detail. The scene of old Forest Hills and new Forest Hills in the backdrop is an amazing contrast. I would imagine tenants like a prominent real estate agent or lawyer may find appeal with the unique spot, as opposed to some boring, ground level retail space of a medical building or high rise.

  Posted by West
  on July 19th, 2007 at 6:59 pm

• Huh? We have Ridgewood Savings bank which has been landmarked.

  1926 The Bristol (78-14 Austin Street), the first apartment building in Forest Hills, is built and is still around (though I would argue it looks bad on the outside as if it needs to be replaced) .

  There is OLD AND NEW right now. But they were just older ROW houses.

  Manhattan for instance has some areas where they have these older Townhomes which have been landmarked where they are really nice and fit in completely with the surrounding areas. They are really beautiful structures.

  Landmark status is when a building really represents something special to the community. For some they would argue that Ridgewood Savings Bank’s structure is that. I would disagree, but they can think that and it was landmarked. But the ROW houses are just smallish structures which don’t offer anything UNIQUE that really needs to be saved. Look at the other structures in Manhattan and elsewhere on the Landmark preservation website and you will notice a HUGE Stark contrast. Had these have been more beautiful TOWNHOMES which represented a unique architectural contrast to the community, they in all likelyhood WOULD have been saved in that location.

  Posted by AJ023
  on July 19th, 2007 at 7:37 pm

• AJ please stop yelling. West, now we’re talking. The difference with these houses compared to others in Brooklyn, Manhattan, even Sunnyside, is that these are a few houses unique to an area smack in the middle of commercial structures. I think preservation would be a much easier task if someone had a definite tenant or buyer with plans to put the houses to good use. I don’t know if that could happen, but without that type of demand for the townhouses, it will be difficult to convince people to preserve them as is.

  Posted by Peter
  on July 19th, 2007 at 9:34 pm

• I’m not totally in love with the townhouses, myself, but I fear that what will be built in their place will be cheap, fast, and ugly. If I knew that their replacement was going to be a real aesthetic effort, it would be easier to say goodbye to them. But my expections are pretty low.

  Posted by flocat
  on July 19th, 2007 at 10:43 pm

• Peter, it seems like a classic case of chicken or the egg. Demand will cause an effort to preserve. But if they weren’t preserved in the first place, there will be no demand for them. As you pointed out, it will be hard to justify their existense without a purpose. Unfortunately, once they are gone, so is any potential they may have had.

  I envision that a functional replica of old Forest Hills…..or even a FH architectural timeline….. would add great appeal to that area. They would be accurate facades with functional commercial space. It is nicely located right off of Queens Blvd between Continental and Ascan, and really isn’t taking away from development. In fact, it would enhance the area to draw more development. It could be a joint initiative by area developers, businesses, and private investment. What better way to score points with the community, than by sponsoring a space that commemorates it?

  If there are plans to spruce up the area with a hotel, I don’t think a nice public area like that that is unreasonable. Alas, it is fast money that will decide what the community likes or needs.

  Posted by West
  on July 20th, 2007 at 11:59 am

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