Members of a group called Carroll Gardens CORD (Coalition for Respectful Development) are irate that the Hannah Senesh School, wants to expand their new school building by developing their front garden. The letter mentions Richard Butts, a surveyor in the 19th Century, who carefully designed the garden enhanced blocks of that Brooklyn neighborhood.
The recent request of the Hannah Senesh School to make an exception to our 160 year old law protecting our public, front gardens, in order for them to expand their new school building by developing the front garden on First Place and Smith Street, is an absolutely AWFUL idea for Carroll Gardens.
Such a development would destroy yet another signature, front garden block in Carroll Gardens, stand kitty corner to one of the very few streets in Carroll Gardens in our historical district, and set a very dangerous precedent for more of the same in our future!
Our front gardens, which are public, have been protected from development for all these years for a very good reason!
Carroll Gardens’ sense of ‘sunny, airy, openess’ is a direct result of the far-sighted planning of Richard Butts, a surveyor in the 19th Century who carefully designed the blocks we now inhabit. His work and the legacy he left us in Carroll Gardens must be protected, for it is this legacy that sets us apart from being just another brownstone neighborhood. Carroll Gardens is UNIQUE!Granting Hannah Senesh their wish would set a very dangerous precedent for the future of our community in Carroll Gardens, diminsihing its appeal and value as a one of a kind historical, front-garden, architecutural treasure that can not be found anywhere else in NYC or the USA! We must defend ourselves against inititiatives which are not in the best interests or our own neighborhood.
We need to stop this now! And, we ask for your help!
It is also imperative that we let our Councilman, Brad Lander, know that we need to protect our unique history and heritage and that our front gardens can NOT be developed and destroyed. Period!