Great News! NYC Landmark Preservation Commission Votes Unanimously To Calendar 236 And 238 President Street In Carroll Gardens

NYC Landmark Preservation Commission discussing 236 and 238 President Street at its meeting yesterday morning

Drawing of the building from The Brooklyn Eagle, November 21, 1897

238 President Street and 236 President Street seen in 1912 and today

Here is some hopeful news for the two beautiful historic buildings at 236 and 238 President Street, which Carroll Gardeners are trying to have landmarked, after it became known that a developer plans on demolishing the former  Hans S. Christian Memorial Kindergarten at #236 to make way for new condos.

Here is a report by Glenn Kelly, who attended New York City Landmark Preservation Commission's meeting where the two buildings were discussed:
"At 9:45 Am on April 10th, the New York City Landmark Preservation Commission voted unanimously to calendar 236 and 238 President Street for consideration as individual New York City landmark buildings.
There was a brief presentation and recommendation from the LPC research department and a question about the garage addition at 236 and top floor addition at 238. The Chairperson, Meenakshi Srinivasan, seemed quite supportive of the recommendation and answered that the garage is likely to be removed in the future. Several commissioners seemed quite pleased with the Joan Baez connection.
While this action does not guarantee that the buildings will become landmarks, it does provide immediate protection against changes or demolition while the agency does further research and follows its procedures for a hearing which will likely be held later this year.
Should the buildings be landmarked, we can be sure that the 236 building will be preserved (at minimum its facade) and any development will be subject to community (and community board) review in order to produce a result which incorporates the existing building in a respectful way and adds to the community. The history of this building will remain more real with its continued existence and this block, our neighborhood and our city will be a more interesting place.
This is a big win for our community and hopefully a signal that LPC will continue to consider an expansion of our existing landmark district.
Congratulations are in order for our community and especially to those who fought for this designation.
Thanks for your initiative and dedication !"

Again, to make clear, this does not mean that the two buildings have been landmarked, just that the Commission is committed to consider landmark status.  It also means that starting today, 236 President Street can not be demolished without prior approval by the Commission until a final vote on its landmark status. It is a giant step forward, however, and we should all be proud of how we came together to get us to this point.

For more on the two buildings, click here:

Urgent: Help Save The Hans S. Christian Memorial Kindergarten Building On President Street In Carroll Gardens As It Faces Imminent Demolition

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Urgent: Help Save The Hans S. Christian Memorial Kindergarten Building On President Street In Carroll Gardens As It Faces Imminent Demolition

Drawing of the building from The Brooklyn Eagle, November 21, 1897

238 President Street and 236 President Street seen in 1912 and today

In November 2017, PMFA alerted the Carroll Gardens neighborhood to the fact that the small beige brick home at 236 President Street, between Court Street and Clinton Street may be in danger of being torn down. At the time, this ornate and unusual building was listed with Alex Calabretta of Douglas Elliman in such a way as to appeal to developers who would take full advantage of the building's R6A zoning and its remaining floor area.

A listing on Trulia read:

"Live in this truly unique home while developing a project that could fund your retirement. This extremely sturdy, 2 story structure could potentially support an additional 5 floors of living space totaling over 10,000 sq. feet. With possibly up to 16 dwelling units this property could provide a sellout of over $15,000,000 at today's market prices for new condos in the area. Bring your Manhattan developers looking to dip their toes into coveted markets - Carroll Gardens."

236 President Street soon went into contract, and we now know that Avo Construction, the buyer, is planning on closing on it at the beginning of March.  (Avo is the construction company behind the condo building at 210 Pacific Street).

At an initial meeting with members of the board from the adjoining buildings at 232 and 238 President and St. Paul’s Church at the intersection of Carroll and Clinton Streets, the developer expressed the intention to demolish the original building in order to erect a six-story luxury condominium that would utilize the full area allowed by the lot’s R6A zoning.

The demolition of 236 President Street would rob Carroll Gardens of an important part of its history. The two-story, stand-alone structure was designed by Hough & Duell in 1897 as the Hans S. Christian Memorial Kindergarten in tribute to Hans S. Christian by his widow. A Norwegian immigrant, Christian lived at 231 President Street and owned a lime and brick factory on Second Street in Gowanus.

The building's uniqueness was mentioned in a November 1897 article in the Brooklyn Eagle, which covered the Kindergarten's dedication. "It is the only building of its kind in Brooklyn, so far as known, and one of the very few in existence in the City."

Though built exclusively as a kindergarten, complete with cloak room, teachers' parlor, matron's quarters, pantry, janitor's room and sun-filled classrooms, the building was transformed into a residence decades ago.

To save the building,  the residents of 238 President Street have reached out to New York City's Landmark Preservation Commission to request expeditious historic landmark designation for the “Hans S. Christian Memorial Kindergarten”, as well as their own building, which predates it by 45 years and once housed the "Brooklyn Deaconess Home and Training School of the Methodist Episcopal Church."

In effect, the two buildings share much history.  In  February 1897, Mrs. Elmira Christian, Hans Christian's widow, purchased 238 President Street and deeded it to the Brooklyn Church Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. in her husband's memory. The building would became the “Brooklyn Deaconess Home and Training School of the Methodist Episcopal Church.”  The school's charitable activities would serve the needs of immigrant families in the area.

The Christian Memorial Kindergarten was erected by Elmira Christian as a free standing structure on her property. Both buildings shared the same building parcel until 1974.

The residents of 238 President Street and their neighbors believe strongly that the preservation of both these local historical properties is integral to the appeal and substance of  Carroll Gardens.

We need to come together as a community to show our support. Please consider sending a letter of support for landmarking to the Landmark Preservation Commission, Community Board 6 and Councilmember Brad Lander. All you have to do is to send the following text or your own via email:

To: 

msrinivasan@lpc.nyc.gov, klemosmchale@lpc.nyc.gov, lander@council.nyc.gov and info@brooklynCB6.org

"This March,  236 President Street will be sold to a developer who plans to demolish the building and replace it with a six-story luxury condominium that will rise 70 feet, taller than any other building on the block. 

236 President Street, designed by Hough & Duell and built in 1897, is an integral part of Carroll Gardens' history and as the former Hans S. Christian Memorial Kindergarten, holds significance for New York City.

I support saving Carroll Gardens' history by giving 236 and 238 President Street landmark status."

You can use the QR code provided below if you have an updated iPhone or Android-based smart phone. Just point your phone's camera at the symbol below. It will bring you to an automatically generated email message to LPC, CB6 and Lander.

No matter how you voice your support, please do it TODAY as time is of the essence! And please encourage others to do the same.

Thanks, neighbors.

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