Featured News:
Preservation Emergency!
Action must be taken by Tuesday, June 24th!
The Abram and Ann Dissosway Cole House, 4927 Arthur Kill Road is in jeopardy.
This handsome Greek Revival house, constructed in the 1840s by Captain Abram Cole and Ann Dissosway Cole, is a rare survivor on Staten Island’s west shore, a significant example of mid-nineteenth century domestic architecture and notable for its associations with the historical development of this section of Staten Island.
While the building has withstood the test of time for over 150 years, it now faces a very real threat of being leveled to make way for the expansion of a shopping center next door. The Preservation League of Staten Island urges that immediate action should be taken to landmark this historic building.
Please join us in adding your voice to the chorus of preservationists who are fighting to keep The Abram and Ann Dissosway Cole House, and a little piece of Staten Island intact.
You can help in two ways:
1. Attend the LPC public hearing and testify:
Tuesday, June 24, 3:45 pm
Landmarks Preservation Commission
Municipal Building
1 Centre Street, Ninth floor
NY, NY
Your testimony need not be long. (Simply stating your name and that you support landmarking the Dissosway Cole Houses is enough!) It is most important to have a large group of supporters at the hearing to show the LPC commissioners that we are concerned about the loss of our borough’s historic homes.
2. Write LPC Chair Tierney a short email expressing your support of the designation of 4927 Arthur Kill Road:
comments@lpc.nyc.gov
The Preservation League of Staten Island presents:
HILLS TO HARBOR
The PLSI Spring 2008 Home Tour
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Touring homes in New Brighton and Snug Harbor East
12pm - 5pm, last entrance at 4:30pm.
Check-in at Christ Church, 76 Franklin Avenue.
Please join us for refreshments at the Unitarian Church after the tour.
Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at Christ Church.
SPECIAL TOUR
Take a guided tour of the
WILLIAM S. PENDLETON HOUSE, 1855
22 Pendleton Place
A Gothic Revival Villa.
Home of Edwin Calderon
In addition to the homes featured the Preservation League house tour on Sunday, May 18, 22 Pendleton Place will be open to four, 6 person guided tours given by the owner. Tickets will be available for $15 (in addition to tour fee) at check-in, on a first-come, first-served basis. The tours are scheduled for 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30PM.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn about this fantastic house and its museum quality furnishings.
Edwin Calderon bought the house in 1994. With support from the New York City Landmarks Commission, Calderon began an extensive project of removing the 1930’s cedar shingles and exposing the original tongue and grove vertical board siding that gives this house its distinct character. The original carved bargeboards and gutters were recreated, as was some of the trefoil gingerbread trim. Paint chips were used to identify exterior colors for repainting.
The house was designated a NYC Landmark on March 5, 1969, exactly twenty five years to the day before Edwin purchased it. It was recently featured on HGTV’s If Walls Could Talk and still appears in repeat episodes. (Look for episode #1702)
For more information email info@preservestatenisland.org.
PLSI President, Jim Ferreri starts a new blog.
“House hugging: A difficult but worthy avocation”
Preservation League of NYS President, Jay DiLorenzo visits SI
On September 6 and 7, 2007, Jay DiLorenzo met with the leaders of local cultural institutions, toured historic sites of Staten Island, and gave a lecture about the benefits of historic preservation to a crowd of about 50 people at Christ Church, New Brighton. In his talk, Mr. DiLorenzo stressed how preserving historic structures plays a vital and important role in communities, fostering local pride. He offered many examples of successful rehabilitation efforts, such as NYS main streets and Charleston, SC, where historic preservation has played a vital role in urban redevelopment. Preservation also has financial benefits; rehabilitation creates more jobs and reinvests more money in the local economy than new construction does. Finally, Mr. DiLorenzo stressed the enviroment benefits of preservation - reusing existing structures and recycling existing materials conserves energy and keeps debris out of landfills.
To end the evening, Mr. DiLorenzo presented a check for $5000 to the Tottenville Historical Society to help prepare a State Register nomination based on the extensive Tottenville research already completed by Barnett Shepherd, Linda Hauck and Tina Kaasmann-Dunn.