June 20, 2013 By Christian Murray
The plans to develop a site within the Sunnyside Gardens Historic District were greeted with skepticism by Community Board 2’s Land Use Committee last night.
The architects provided details on the developer’s proposal to construct an aluminaire house –made of metal– and eight accompanying residential units for the first time.
The development would take place on the corner of 39th Avenue and 50th Street, at the site of the historic Phipps playground. The Phipps sold the property in July 2007 to DBH Associates for $1.43 million.
The proposed residential units—which would be contained within one building– would be clad with terracotta-colored panels, with a brick pattern.
About 50 residents turned out for the committee meeting—many holding leaflets that read: “Say ‘No’ to unwanted development in our Community!”
Meanwhile, a letter was circulating that had been written by Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer to the Landmarks Preservation Committee voicing his opposition to it. “Though architecturally significant in its own right,” the letter read, “the Aluminaire House is … out of character with the neighborhood and I am opposed to it.”
Many residents questioned whether any type of development could take place on the property. Dorothy Morehead, who is a member of community board 2 and owns a real estate firm in the Gardens, said that the former playground is deemed “open space.” She said that she has never heard of a case where the Landmarks committee has permitted development on “open space”.
Nevertheless, Michael Schwarting, an architect with Campani and Schwarting Architects, presented the developer’s plan.
Schwarting focused heavily on the aluminaire house and its historical significance. The house, he said, was designed in 1931 as a case study for the New York Architectural League Show at the Museum of Modern Art—out of donated building materials, primarily aluminum.
The house has been disassembled and reassembled many times in its 80-year history.
Schwarting, who is on the board of the Aluminaire House Foundation, said the intention has always been to put the house in a low-rise, high density residential area such as on the edge of New York City. The idea is to showcase what was being discussed at architecture schools in the 1930s in terms of building low-cost housing.
“We believe the site is appropriate to the time period, the ideology [of the Gardens], and would be a positive contribution to the historic nature of this district,” Schwarting said.
The house would essentially be a showpiece or a museum where people could visit. The Aluminaire Foundation, he said, would be leasing space on the site from the developer to keep it there.
The housing units—which would bring income to the developer through rent or condo sales—would act as a buffer between the aluminaire house and the historic brick homes in Sunnyside Gardens.
But Stephen Cooper, Co-Chair of the Land Use Committee, suggested that the aluminaire house – and accompanying units—were not a good fit for the Historic District. “The buildings [in the Gardens] are all essentially the same. They are brick, all two stories tall—essentially all the same look,” he said. “There is not a single aluminum house in the area.”
However, Schwarting argued that the aluminaire house “will stick out in an elegant way and it is a beautiful house of the same time period as the surrounding houses.”
The committee asked Schwarting how he would deal with graffiti and other security issues—given the fact that the house would operate as a museum and be surrounded by open space. While he mentioned surveillance cameras, he said he would get back to the committee.
Furthermore the committee wanted to know about the financial condition of the foundation and how it was funding the aluminaire house. It wanted to know whether the foundation had enough funds to construct/assemble the house as well as maintain it. The committee was concerned that the house could one day be abandoned.
Schwarting said that “we have funds to the build the house and are beginning the process of [fundraising] to establish the museum and maintain the house.”
Schwarting said the inclusion of the aluminaire house as part of the development was not a ploy by the property owner to get the eight residential units approved. “We went to the developer and asked if we could put the aluminaire house there,” he said. Then, he said, he was put in charge of designing the entire site.
Schwarting said that he has a hearing with the Landmarks Commission concerning the plan on July 9.
However, Joe Conley, chairman of Community Board 2, asked Schwarting to postpone that hearing until September. By that time, Conley said, the community board would be able to hold a public hearing on it and the entire community would be able to weigh in on it.
Schwarting said he was willing to postpone the July 9 hearing.
However, if Schwarting is unable to change the date, Conley said a public hearing would most likely be held on June 27 at the Sunnyside Community Services Center.
The community board, however, is an advisory body and it is the Landmarks Preservation Commission that ultimately makes the decision.
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72 Comments
@WC Kyle @NYC Resident @Suuuuunyside and whomever is pro this eyesore…
I am a born and raised Sunnysider. I lived here when graffiti coated the sides of buildings and Skillman park was a rusted breeding ground for tuberculosis. I’ve embraced every store front that’s changed from the lotto store turned pawn shop, fruit shop turned T-Mobile, and a topless bar turned into two different pubs to an international foods store… I can go on. Change occurs rapidly and often here in Sunnyside. However, Sunnyside Gardens is a historic district designed to preserve what was build decades ago.
This park on 50th and 39th was once a summer camp bustling with kids. I know, because I was one. Unfortunately, due to money and lack of volunteers it closed. I quite like the memories I have of it there. I don’t mind it reopened as another park or a camp, but I oppose to building an eyesore for some private servants financial gain so tourists can traipse up and down my block invading my privacy and taking up my parking.
Also, if you think our houses are small there is a clear solution. MOVE! Sunnyside doesn’t need trendy hipsters who know nothing about the history of Sunnyside settling here for a few years, interjecting their opinions worth less than two cents, and then moving on leaving those who choose to raise their children here with an eyesore.
I embrace change, but I choose to live in SUNNYSIDE GARDENS for its consistency.
Agreed with the last post. I’m originally from Brooklyn, where most of the homes are spacious and beautifully constructed (where a lot of the homes should be resotred and kept). When having a chance to get to see these mini row-type houses I was shocked by how small and unpleasant they are (inside and out). If anyone can make anything more interesting or eye-appealing it would be an asset to the community!
PS: For those telling people to get out, maybe you should get out… and get a grip.
NYC at one point was the most modern city, what the hell happened? A bunch of (mentally) old farts started saying “SAVE EVERYTHING”….NOT EVERYTHING IN NYC SHOULD BE SAVED…. If we don’t move with the world, soon enough NYC will be a third world country!
the north side of sunnyside is not that big of a deal or that ascetically pleasing, the houses were poorly constructed, it is not like its beverly hills or forest hills gardens where there is some beauty worth preserving. if someone would like to build something to add value to the neighborhood as a whole they should be able to do so, because not only would the home owners have their property values go up but also the more people, and the more money that comes in the better for the local businesses.
dont be scared of change embrace it because there is nothing any landmark committee can do to stop it, the neighborhood will change wither the long time residents like it or not
@ Steven B. Good idea. What about PS1? It could serve as additional exhibition space and be an attraction in its own right.
@ Anonymous. The community board comprises 50 people from all walks of life: lawyers, teachers, TV reporter, clergymen, NYC workers, retirees. What is your problem with my serving on the board?
i think Roosevelt Island would be a more fitting site for the Aluminaire House.
@Tempus Fugit Bravo!
Re: san fran kyle
Yeah, you can always spot the ‘open-minded’ people by the way they immediately insult people they disagree instead of politely disagreeing with them, or heaven forbid, considering their viewpoints for a minute.
The rendition of these structures are deceiving in terms of the trees – I went down to this corner and discovered much of the leafy greenery coming from trees that are actually situated on the property. So according to the image above, just imagine only the handful on the sidewalk.
@ WCK
The fact that an owner of a local real estate company sits on the community board nary raising an eyebrow tells you everything you need to know about the hidden agendas inherent on these issues.
Meanwhile the “out of character” catch all is used to stifle any development. Out of character from what? An empty lot? Some of the shanties that make up a good portion off the Gardens?
@WCK The wisdom of the old saw “When in Rome do as the Romans do,” is lost on you, I see. It means don’t be an arrogant clod who thinks because he knows differently that he knows better.
You are this neighborhood’s equivalent of the Ugly American tourist.
@West Coast Kyle
Every neighborhood should be handled like SF does it, and most New Yorkers are “close minded, selfish prudes.” Yes, you sound very open-minded and not parochial or bigoted at all.
A local not to be confused with West Coast Kyle.
I’d say an architectural flop – no one will come to see this.
There is a small but not insignificant group of European and American tourists who would come to see the Aluminair House. In addition, it might be rented out for meetings and small scale cultural affairs if possible.
It would not be such a bad thing to have something that drew even a small group of educated people into the neighborhood, and served to educate local kids about architectural history.
WCKYLE said: “Another issue is that I’m a California guy, so I’m very open-minded to change; ”
Why do some people automatically assume anything described as “change” is necessarily a good thing?
This may come as a shock to you but change can also be for the worse. Just saying the word “change” without specifying how the “change” you want is actually an improvement and persuading other of its merit, means absolutely nothing.
I’m tired of people who don’t automatically submit to every fad, fancy new idea, or fashion getting smeared as narrow-minded, intolerant or “selfish prudes” as our San Francisco friend puts it. If he is so open-minded, why is he so intolerant of other people’s viewpoints that don’t agree with his?
@WC Kyle – I think you are referring to people like Workweek and I can’t agree with you more. Don’t be discouraged, there are many New Yorkers that are open minded.
Rent it out for movie and TV production. The park definitely has a haunted aura to it.
Well said WC Kyle.
@West Coat Kyle Let me be the first to say your honesty is as rude as I’ve ever heard. And let me be the first to offer you a ride to the airport. I’d like to do all I can to get you out of town as quickly as possible! haha!
I am originally from San Francisco but moved here 1 1/2 years ago; with all honesty in my opinion, much of New York is historical, and with that comes age, dirt, grime, rust, debris, filth, you name it and that’s New York! This city needs to do either of two options: clean the horrible dark, murky, disgusting feel to the city or upgrade the city with art and/or other more visually appealing materials.
Sorry if I have offended anybody for whatever reason, and Sunnyside Gardens is a very nice area to be in. I’d just like to see it “clean!” Take the historical Fort Mason in San Francisco for instance….the city has gutted out the old military buildings, renovated, and upgraded them for seismic protection, as well as transformed many of the units into various museums. Who’s to say the same couldn’t be done here and this Aluminaire house is the start? Fort Mason still has the historical appeal, yet it is clean, inviting, and rewardingly new.
Another issue is that I’m a California guy, so I’m very open-minded to change; having interacted with native New Yorker’s for the past 18 months, I’d say most are close minded, selfish prudes to be honest! haha 🙂
@ Dorothy Morehead That is an interesting point.
I would consider the project if I could get one of the units.
If it hadn’t been for the Great Depression which started just after Sunnyside Gardens was completed, it would have been THE model for community development.
I don’t get it. From what I have read, the Alumaire House was built for an exhibition as a modernist prototype for affordable housing. It didn’t take off, right? People did not want aluminum houses. I can appreciate that these architects are fond of this house but history proves the public is not. It is a failed idea. Why should we showcase it in Sunnyside Gardens which actually is a successful model of urban planning?
The community board just sent an email that, as the committee requested, the application has been postponed until the Fall. Because of Rosh Hashanah, the September board meeting will be changed from its usual first Thursday schedule. The probable date is the second Thursday, Set. 12. which will be confirmed soon.
I say don’t develop. Make it a community gathering place for in keeping with the original design and fully within landmarking guidelines. We’ll find out in September, I presume.
I say develop. Better than what is there for the last five years as long as I’ve lived here. Work with the architect to make it more in line with the neighborhood maybe but develop.
What has ownership got to do with it? Are renters unequal to owners?
@John Doe. It was owned for a long time by the Phipps. It was cheaper to keep it closed than keep it open, maintaining it, paying for insurance, water, employees…etc.
How many of you out there in support of, or against this Aluminum Albatross are ACTUAL SINGLE PROPERTY HOMEOWNERS IN SUNNYSIDE GARDENS PROPER?
Please state your real name for the record.
1) Mike Novak – Against
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/sunnyside-gardens-residents-show-steel-opposition-relocation-plans-aluminaire-house-article-1.1378346
@ John Doe Check the comments section of the story that led up to the meeting. Somewhere in there Dorothy Morehead explains it all.
I was always curious about what happened to that little park. Why has it been closed for decades??? The other park I’m curious about is the one on 48th Street between Skillman & 43rd Avenues. I see some old swings, etc. Looks like it used to be a park. Can any longtime resident shed some light?
@ Anon Again you take the low road. Go it on your own and fare well.
With all due respect, the architects that have cared for the aluminum house since 1987 will not live forever. I believe that over time the aluminum house will not be cared for, lose funding, etc. Then residents (especially those living in the new housing) will ask that it be dis-assembled & taken away, which appears relatively easy to do. Pretty ironic but not a far-fetched prediction.
@work
Don’t worry I’m done responding to your simple views. You may want to keep your rude suggestions off this board in the future).
Nimbys (the exact definition in your last post) like yourself do a disservice to the neighborhood.
MINDSET: I went to the meeting opposed to anything that takes away any blank or green space near us. I assumed that the historic house was the “smokescreen” for a developer to salvage his investment. I heard the presentation from a few feet away and challenges and queries of cb2 land use committee.
WHAT I THINK: I would like everyone in the community who cares to hear directly again from these architects after they get answers to the questions put to them. My view on the cb2 land use committee is that it is a relief to have such people in charge and they are highly intelligent and seem understand entirely what is at stake and what majority concerns are. My actual view at the moment in short is, ‘love the old house, hate the new building because way too small a lot as too much going on. Ideal: the house in just a garden, open as a museum for all with adequate safety and public access. Problem as usual: no money to make that happen.’
WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE? The architects approached the lot owner, not the reverse. They have been advocates of the house since 1987. They are interested in putting this historic house somewhere to be saved for the future. So the “smokescreen” aspect might be true of the lot owner, but for these two, the smokescreen is the 8 living spaces they designed to pay for the place for their house spot.
PUBLIC MEETING COMING: cb2 asked the architects to defy, if necessary, the landmarks commission, whose puzzlingly galloping schedule was not going to give the community a chance to hear and speak. The architects agreed.
ARCHITECTS THINKING: They seek to put a related common green space design from an earlier era with common green space design of the same era, which makes sense. Their third design was to give the owner income and motivation.
They even mentioned the idea of making the metal house an archive for local items, (which in my view, we desperately need for scholarship, tourism, history, and keeping our valuables right here! For instance, six of us ”own” Neziah Bliss’ daughter’s wedding dress, historic maps and more, and there is a treasure trove of more amazing things others have. Yes, who wants tourists trampling our peonies, but we do live in NYC. Don’t others take our Elgin marbles! )
OTHER STRUCTURE: The look of the other bindings was the architects to attempt to bridge the difference between the look of sg and the metal house. Problem to me: For the eye, it is another concept to take in too small a space, no matter how artful.
HOPE: So my opinion until hearing more is that I wish Queens and Sunnyside could find a secure space for the historic metal house, even if this location falls through.
If the house could be placed there with no other buildings, amid landscaping which was pleasing to the eye, and the space open to the public, it does relate to sg, and it would add richness to our area. Where is that billionaire out there to make this happen? 🙂
That failing, I would prefer the decrepit vacant lot that is there until a better idea is proposed and funded.
I intended to identify myself in the above post. Sorry for the oversight.
@ Anonymous I welcome your opinions but not your vulgarities, especially when you address them to me. They tend to inflame the passions, cloud the issues and turn a reasoned conversation into a brawl. But, spout them all over the place if you have a mind to. Its a free country.
Overdevelopment is a national issue, not a local one. And builders put themselves in the line of fire when they get into the business of changing the nature of people’s home towns.
In my opinion ff the builder really loves his development, he can put it in his backyard.
Perhaps Ms. Morehead, in her capacity as Director / President of the Sunnyside Foundation, would consider selling the two-family property that the Sunnyside Foundation owns on 47th Street and put those funds towards the purchase of the Phipps playground lot?
http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2007/01/more-on-sunnyside.html
Or maybe part of the 25 years worth of rental income that the Sunnyside Foundation has collected from the tenants there could be put towards an attempt to purchase the land and create “Cautley Garden”?
@ morehead
The conflict is in possibly keeping those developments/inventory/sales offices, in which you have no financial interests, out.
One would argue this lack of supply inflates the cost for both existing owners and renters, and for those who just want to move in.
@work
I was responding to your opinion/suggestion, if you don’t like it, keep those to yourself as well.
Of course you would prefer an oasis to more houses. The whole “got mine, shut everything else down” attitude that pervades this area is both small minded and short sighted.
Actually, Cautley Garden is helping to organize against the development — for many reasons, but chief among them is the desire to transform it into a working community garden for the broader neighborhood and surrounding area — not just Sunnyside Gardens. There are other parts of Sunnyside that are way more underserved than the Gardens and we hope to benefit everyone with more open green space, especially for gardening but also for a meeting place, leisure, whatever.
Its entirely possible to do this too, even with the current landowner still holding the property — potential donation (hey if he can’t work the lot, why not?), license agreements and leases.
This isn’t a rally to just let the lot stay abandoned, we have more community interests in mind for it. Importantly, for everyone — not just Gardens people, but the whole Sunnyside/Woodside is desperately lacking open green space.
Cautley Garden
@Native NYer. Most of the time was consumed by the architect’s presentation which included the circulation of a limited number of photo collages which I did not get to see. Then committee members asked questions about materials proposed for the new buildings, massing, how the Aluminaire Building would be used (museum to be open to the public by appointment only except for one or two days a year), funding for the building’s construction and ongoing maintenance (non-profit Aluminaire House Foundation), lease (99 years). The issue of landmark zoning was not discussed.
@7TrainDelays. Any financial interest I might have in brokering the sale of houses in Sunnyside Gardens could as easily be compromised as supported by my pro-preservation stance. Even within my group of friends there is disagreement. As for new construction in CB2, the vast majority is built as-of-right and don’t come before the board, the exceptions being where the developer is asking for variations to the zoning, usually extra height. Those properties have their own sales office so I have no financial interest.
I was always curious about what happened to that little park. Why has it been closed for decades??? The other park I’m curious about is the one on 48th Street between Skillman & 43rd Avenues. I see some old swings, etc. Looks like it used to be a park. Can any longtime resident shed some light?
Lets do this,getting real tired of the snobs in this hood.Lets do it.
Dorothy… I have a question since you were at the hearing. Did the CB focus on the fact that the lot was zoned as park space?
Thanks
@Anonymous Please keep vulgarities to yourself. If it weren’t landmarked I wouldn’t like it, but I wouldn’t have a right to object. But for good or ill, it is landmarked. The buyer made a mistake thinking people around here would welcome more houses. I would much prefer an oasis to more houses. We are all entitled to our opinions.
at least something is getting developed. the south side corner with Marabella’s pizza is a ghost town,
Ms. Morehead stated
“The only conflict of interest for a real estate broker serving on the community board would be if the broker had a financial interest in something that came before the board. ”
I’m sure this is true and correct me if I’m wrong but but decisions made by the community board you are on effect the local real estate market that you do business in, even if it doesn’t involve a specific property of yours that comes before the board?
On a strictly aesthetic note, the proposed building looks like something someone built with an oversized Lego kit. It’s got some serious Feng-Shui problems too. Are there any architects with a soul out there working? All I see is unimaginative, sterile-looking boxes being built.
Currently they are almost all run-down and look very odd and old. At night it looks like you’ll get stabbed, no lights in front of most houses.
Get rid of sunnyside gardens’ landmark or historical status and rebuild them as the way they were with garages. Case closed. Make them all 2-3 family houses, same style, beautiful design.
@workweek
Wtf are you to decide when this neighborhood is at capacity?
Ms. Morehead,
How is that one can be a real estate broker in an area and only have a financial interest in one’s own home and office? Certainly there’s a financial interest in the properties you are brokering. Or perhaps you aren’t selling or brokering any, in which case, how are you in business? Help me out, I’m just curious. You’ll have to forgive my cynicism but nowadays you can’t trust anyone in politics or business.
@Rook We don’t prefer ugly to your buildings, we prefer open to your buildings. We hope to have a relaxed, green, quiet open ground, to meet each other, enjoy each other and build community. That is what it was built for.
I should add that I was a broker before I was appointed to the board and that I chair the Environmental Committee and don’t even serve on the Land Use Committee.
The only conflict of interest for a real estate broker serving on the community board would be if the broker had a financial interest in something that came before the board. I have no financial interest in that or any other property except my home and my office and was asked for my comments by Mr. Murray.
It seems rather ridiculous that people here would actually prefer a fenced ugly closed lot over the construction of just 8 residential units.
lol ok those of you that thought you “owned” sunnyside may the walls come tumbling down on your obnoxious self-centered all about me desires…hope it goes thru and then put bloomberg’s share a bike & bike lanes and dog runs and every other obnoxious thing you wanted for EVERYONE but you!!!! please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why must everything look the same?I think the plan is great. When can I buy a unit?
This is narrow minded opposition to an interesting and historically related project from the same era as the gardens. That playground has been a vacant barbed wire eyesore for decades. Do any of the protesters have an alternative in mind or is it just some kind of NIMBY response? “A letter was circulating” from our City Councilman but I suppose reporter Murray didn’t see it or read it or find it worthy of quotation. The committee was concerned that “one day the house could be abandoned” Wake up! That lot has been abandoned for almost 35 years.
Gee, Moorhead who owns a real estate company dealing with a limited stock of properties is opposed to any new development… rich.
@ 7train
There’s plenty of green space, it just happens to be all private. Where’s the call from Moorhead to convert the green courts to public gardens? For the good of the community. Or converting the private park? No, they don’t have to since they own it? Guess that only goes one way, when it’s other people’s private property.
I don’t care one way or another, don’t live in the Gardens, have no interest in joining their little park. Just find the backward insular attitudes amusing.
Progress and beautification of the neighborhood will increase all of our property values. I say let it happen. It’s better than the ugly vacant lot that has been that way for so long
I like it. I hope it gets built.
@ Anonymous Couldn’t agree with you less. There are enough people in this neighborhood. You like crowds, go to Time Square.
I think it will be fine. Let’s do it!
Anonymous, call it an abandoned lot if you like but it’s still a bit of open space and greenery in a section of the city that desperately needs a bit more open space and greenery. If it weren’t for the cemeteries, we’d have none at all. And we are just a stone’s throw away from that ugly, overdeveloped monstrosity that LIC is fast becoming.
from the article:
“Dorothy Morehead, who is a member of community board 2 and owns a real estate firm in the Gardens, – ‘
Am I the only one who sees a conflict of interest here?
I would say new condos and rentals are a step up from an abandoned lot.
Let’s face it. The wealthy developers will bribe the right officials and get their way.Joe Public will be screwed as usual. These clowns would demolish Notre Dame Cathedral tomorrow if there were a nickel to be made building ugly, glass and steel condos.