Carroll Gardens
Neighborhood Association

• The reason many communities choose to be designated a Historic Landmark District is to maintain the beauty and character of their neighborhood by preserving its historic buildings and streetscape, including building height limits and building appearance characteristics. Most of the 80 Historic Landmark Districts in NYC were created because there was a threat to the environment through over-development, tear down and construction of out of context or construction of out-sized buildings. The only way to stop over development and construction of out of context building is through obtaining Landmark Status. A recent example in our area was the action taken by CB 6 regarding the building of an 8 story over-sized building to be built on the parking lot behind the Independence Saving Bank (now Sovereign Bank) on the corner of Atlantic Ave and Court Street. This area is in the Cobble Hill Historic District. The Landmark Committee of CB 6 rejected the developers plan because it was not in conformity with the historic district plan that has been in place since 1978. This result occurred over the support for the builder/developer plan by a local councilman and over an approval of the LMC. (See Courier Life/ Carroll Gardens/ Cobble Hill, June 29, 2007). Carroll Gardens is in CB 6 District

• There is a reputation of quality and real estate marketability that is achieved when an owner's neighborhood is officially designated as a landmark. Landmark property owners benefit from official commitment to historic preservation and the security of knowing that their property and neighborhood will not be negatively affected by rapid development trends in the future. Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Boreum Hill, and Park Slope are good examples of the positive effects of a landmark district.

• The National Trust for Historic Preservation has analyzed numerous studies of property values in Landmark Districts throughout the country over a period of several years. These studies indicate that values of homes in landmark districts tend to appreciate at a slightly higher rate than the similar value of homes and building stock outside landmark district. An extensive study conducted by the Independent Budget Office for the City of New York reinforces these studies. The IBO surveyed all the historic landmark districts in NYC from 1978 to 2004 and this study confirms that property values in historic districts hold there value and appreciate slightly higher than those in non land marked districts. There is no indication that property values go down simply because the property is land marked. (A PDF copy of the NYC IBO study is available on line.)

• No. There is no indication that property taxes will go up simply because the property is landmarked. In our own area of Carroll Gardens which is not currently land marked, property taxes have increased to the same degree that property in surrounding landmarked areas have increased. On the other side of this issue, property taxes in landmark districts such as Cobble Hill and our own small landmark district have been increased at the same rate as the non-landmarked property in the area. Assessment of property is done independently of the property's landmark status.

• Renters receive the benefit of living in a stable neighborhood where the property is well maintained and the neighbors show concern for the neighborhood. Renters are protected from rapid changes in the environment, from over-development by unconcerned builders, from over-building which brings noise, dust and unsightly construction barriers, overhead sheds and disruption to our sense of peace, and quite. There will still be some neighbors who refuse to curb their pets, fail to throw their trash and newspapers in the proper receptacles, etc. It is not a perfect world. But the vast majority of our neighbors chose to live in the Carroll Gardens because of its respectful community feel.

• All residents of Carroll Gardens including renters may support the effort of Landmarking. Only property owners in the district, who believe that they are harmed by the land marking process, may oppose the land marking effort. Owners may appear at the hearings and oppose the land marking process, and if they believe they are or will be damaged they may bring a law suit.

• Property owners, not renters, may appear at the hearings and oppose the land marking process. Additionally, if they believe they are or will be damaged, they may bring a law suit to challenge the Landmarking effort.

• There are over 72 blocks in the proposed Carroll Garden Historic District. All blocks will be surveyed. This is a big job since each building must be reviewed by noted architects and historians to determine if it meets the criteria for designation. Some building's exteriors have been so radically altered that it may not be suitable for designation. It may be a safe and sound building, but the front view may not be suitable. However, if the block meets the criteria and the individual house has minor alterations it may be included in a block of historic houses.

• Write to us and a member of the Carroll Gardens Neighbor Association Historic Landmark District Committee will contact you.