Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

(Fort Greene/Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, October 18, 2006)

WHEN & WHERE: Thursday, October 19th, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Benjamin Banneker Academy, 77 Clinton Avenue (Myrtle/Park)

WHAT: The Historic Wallabout Association , a consortium of block associations in the Wallabout area between Myrtle Avenue and the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership will be hosting a community meeting to provide updates on progress toward creating a New York City Landmark District in the Wallabout neighborhood, as well as New York State and National Register status. While area residents have long sought historic district status, ever since not being ultimately included in the Fort Greene or Clinton Hill Historic Districts, this latest effort was officially launched one year ago at a community meeting in November 2005. Over 50 local residents attended, and a steering committee was created to guide the effort.

The residential blocks in Wallabout, primarily located between Myrtle & Park Avenues, has one of the largest collection of wood-frame homes in New York City. These homes pre-date the brick and brownstone construction typical in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, and were built and occupied by largely working class citizens employed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and nearby manufacturing facilities.

The New York Landmarks Conservancy will be presenting information on their Historic Properties Loan Fund, which provides low-interest loans for preservation projects to homeowners of properties that are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Through the work of the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership and the Historic Wallabout Association steering committee, those properties bounded by Clermont Avenue and Ryerson Street and Myrtle and Park Avenues, have been deemed eligible for listing on the National Register.

ADDITIONAL INFO:

For the Wallabout Cultural Resource Survey, completed by Columbia University Professor Andrew Dolkart on behalf of the Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project LDC, please go to www.myrtleavenue.org/WallaboutCulturalResourceSurvey.pdf