OPERATION LANDMARK

The nearly century-old Mathews Flats buildings, located from Woodbine to Linden streets between Forest and Fairview avenues (as seen in top photo), are included in the Ridgewood North Historic District, which is being considered for landmark designation. Richmond Hill's P.S. 66 (seen in bottom photo) is also under review. The Ridgewood North Historic District came one step closer to landmark-status designation at a public hearing held Tuesday, Dec. 16 in downtown Manhattan.

Those who came out in support of the initiative included Ridgewood Property Owners Civic Association President Paul Kerzner, Greater Ridgewood Restoration Corporation Director Theodore Renz, Historic Districts Council Executive Director Simeon Bankoff and City Council Member-elect Elizabeth Crowley.

City Council Member Diana Reyna, whose district includes part of Ridgewood, was not in attendance.

"All of us were pleased with the process," said Kerzner regarding the Landmarks Preservation Commission's handling of the proposal, but he also hopes that future landmarkings of Ridgewood's other 17 historic districts are expediated.

"I'm 58 years old, and I don't want to wait another 20 years," quipped the civic leader to the agency panel during the session.

The proposed district reportedly consists of 96 properties, most of which are early 20th-century tenements known as the Mathews Flats.

The buildings are located in an area generally bounded by Forest and Fairview avenues, between Gates Avenue and Woodbine Street, also including a cluster of structures near Grandview and Forest avenues and rowhouses on the western side of Grandview Avenue at Linden Street.

"In this neighborhood, almost one century after its founding, the houses still functionally serve their original purpose of providing attractive and affordable housing for new populations of New Yorkers, albeit for New Yorkers from different countries of origin than those from one hundred years ago," said Bankoff.

During the conference it was noted that the existing apartment dwellings of the Ridgewood North Historic District were built by German immigrants, featuring cornices, wrought-iron gates and stoops.

Upon the commission's decision to landmark the area, Ridgewood North would join Stockholm Street Historic District's 48 previously landmarked properties, leaving 2,838 local buildings that have yet to be evaluated by the commission.

Ridgewood's historic districts in their entirety, according to Kerzner, constitute the second largest registered historic district in New York State, behind Brooklyn's Sunset Park, which has about 83 more buildings.

In commenting on the proceedings following the hearing, Kerzner informed the Times Newsweekly of some of the benefits of landmarking, including the stability of property values.

He pointed out that none of New York City's 87 historic districts have ever experienced declines in that area.

Bankoff joined Kerzner is urging the commission to commit to the consideration of the designation of the remainder of historic Ridgewood.

"A cherry-picked few blocks selected for protection just doesn't make sense," said the HDC spokesperson.

"It doesn't reflect the importance of the development or even its reality. While there might be some gaps in the integrity of the area, as Ridgewood currently exists, it seems to break up into nodes or hubs of architectural density—those should be protected at the very least."

Following a few more on-site inspections, the commission plans to deliberate further before making a final decision on Ridgewood North.

If the commission votes in favor of landmarking the area, the City Council will then vote to finalize the district's creation.

P.S. 66

A hearing was also held for the landmarking of Richmond Hill's P.S. 66, located at 85-11 102nd Street, which was described as a local architectural treasure by a number of speakers including the secretary for the Society for the Architecture of the City, Christabel Gough.

"The school construction policies of the past in New York were extraordinarily enlightened; judging from the product, nothing was thought to be to good for New York's children, a century ago," she said in her historical perspective.

"In preserving school buildings of enterprising and unusual design, such as Public School 66, the commission is preserving both civic history and present opportunity for the young people of Richmond Hill."

Gough closed her comments by expressing her regret over the recent passing of former Richmond Hill Historical Society President Nancy Cataldi, who was described as "Richmond Hill's greatest advocate."

State Senator-elect Joseph Addabbo's representative Jeff Gottlieb was also on hand to heap praise on the two-and-a-half story school building, once known as Brooklyn Hills High School.

"There is a lot be said for the continuation of education of a new generation of children with new ethnic groups coming in," he observed.

Ed Kirkland of the Historic District Council followed Gottlieb by giving a detailed description of the site's large gables, picturesque bell tower and solid roof.