LPC Approves New 30 Henry Street Design in Brooklyn Heights

The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) yesterday approved a revised design for the "boring" five-story building (above right) proposed for 30 Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights. The current building (above left), constructed in 1963, has housed the Brooklyn Eagle and its sister publications for about a dozen years.

According to the Eagle, Brooklyn Heights Association's Jane McGroarty told the LPC on Jan. 10 that the initial design was: “a mishmash of contextualism. There is nothing special about it, nothing that represents the best of this era. It’s too restrained, too timid, the whole result is boring.”

After hearing a range of opinions that generally expressed dissatisfaction with the proposal's sheer blandness, the LPC asked the design team to consider making some additional changes. These changes were approved by a vote of 9 - 1 yesterday. (No new rendering is available yet.)

The new design is not likely to please Henrik Krogius, editor of the Brooklyn Heights Press (which has moved from 30 Henry Street to offices in DUMBO). In a comment published yesterday, Krogius says the original design 'springs from a total misunderstanding of the building’s context, as well as a total lack of design “guts.”'

Curious to see what changes spurred the LPC to approve the design.

- A Century of Changes at 30 Henry Street, Brooklyn Heights

- Photo of present-day Brooklyn Eagle courtesy of Property Shark
- Rendering of proposed condo courtesy of BKSK via Brownstoner

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