AGENCY TESTIMONY
Landmarks Preservation Commission Executive Director Testifies on Brooklyn Edison Building Designation
0:10:53
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4 min
Lisa Kersavage, Executive Director of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, provides testimony on the proposed landmark designation of the Brooklyn Edison Building. She describes the building's architectural features, historical significance, and recent changes, as well as the public support for its designation.
- The Brooklyn Edison Building, built between 1922-1926, is a Renaissance revival style office building in Downtown Brooklyn.
- The building has undergone changes, including adaptation to urban renewal in the 1950s and the addition of new storefronts in 2009.
- The LPC recognizes the building's historical and architectural significance while acknowledging the need for flexibility in commercial spaces.
Lisa Kersavage
0:10:53
Good morning.
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Acting chair nurse and council members.
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My name is Lisa Crisavage, and I'm the Executive Director of the Landmark's Preservation Commission, and I appreciate the opportunity to testify today on our recent designations.
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The Brooklyn Edison building is a distinguished Renaissance revival style office building designed by Mackenzie, Voorhees, and Gabelin for the Brooklyn Edison company and built between 19221926.
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Highly visible from Adam Street Columbus Park And Fulton Street, the monumental building is a notable landmark in the Civic And Commercial Center of Downtown Brooklyn.
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At the public hearing on June 4th, 2024, three people testified, including representatives of the Downtown Brooklyn Association, Historic Districts Council, who spoke in favor of the designation.
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The owner of the commercial condominium unit did not pose designation but emphasize their concerns about the flexibility in making necessary changes to their commercial storefronts.
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And the commission also received 2 letters in support, including from council member wrestler and a representative of the Brooklyn Heights Association.
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The Brooklyn Edison building is located at 345 Adams Street on the corner of Willoughby, Pearl, and Adams Street.
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The Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Brooklyn was established in 8 1889 to provide electricity to the homes and businesses of Brooklyn.
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After a merger in 1919, the company was formally reorganized as the Brooklyn Edison Company.
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After the completion of the subway lines in the 19 twenties, growth in residential development increased the demand for additional electricity capacity in Brooklyn.
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To answer this demand, the Brooklyn Edison Company required a larger building as its headquarters and commissioned 1 of the most prominent architectural offices of the era era Mackenzie Voorhees, and Gabelin to design it.
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Located on the prominent corner of Willoughby And Pearl Street, the Brooklyn Edison building was designed and constructed in two phases.
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The first phase took place in 1922 to 23, and the building expanded northwards in 1926, doubling its footprint.
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Designed in the Renaissance revival style, the building features a tripartite configuration with a resticated stone base, brick and stone middle section, and double set background, responding to the requirements of the 1916 zoning law.
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It is richly ornamented with Renaissance revival style elements, particularly focused at the street level, and it's refined.
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Originally located on the southeast corner of its block, during the construction of the Brooklyn Civic Center and the expansion of Adam Street in the 19 fifties, the western half of the block was removed and the urban setting changed.
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Following demolition of the adjacent buildings, the ground floors in the Brooklyn Edison buildings, West facade, became exposed.
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The building was adapted to the changing streetscape by moving its main entrance to Adam Street in the mid 19 sixties.
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In 2009, commercial owners, Musk Development LLC, created retail spaces with new storefronts along Adams that interpreted and replicated historic features on Willoughby And Pearl Street with modern materials.
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Activating the street frontage, facing the civic center.
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LPC recognizes that these needs to our fronts are non historic, which allows flexibility into the future.
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Despite the change to the city grid around it and changes to the on the lower stories of the West facade, the building retains its historic form and character.
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Highly visible from many vantage points in its monumentally and prominent Massing incorporating highly intact Renaissance revival style elements is further emphasized after the change in the urban fabric of downtown Brooklyn.
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Recently, a comprehensive restoration of the building facades was completed under the ownership of Decast, The building continues to serve as an office building with commercial activities on its first and second floors.
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And the Brooklyn Edison Company was central to the boroughs electrification needs and stands as a testament to the transformative impact of technological advancements in electricity production in Brooklyn's urban development.
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The architecturally in historically significant buildings continues to provide a monumental backdrop to Brooklyn Civic Center with an elaborate design and setback massing that recall the time of construction.
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Thank you.
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And I'm happy to answer questions.