Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Deciding the Fate of the Duffield St. Houses (Brooklyn Record)




It looks like there will be a meeting today at 11 am to decide the fate of these houses.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Anyone hear what happened at the hearing?

guyfromdobro said...

I was checking this morning and haven't found anything new.

raulistic said...

The hearing revealed extensive Abolitionist activity throughout Downtown Brooklyn. AKRF's thorough research was an attempt to show that there was nothing verifiable on Duffield Street, but it was clear to everyone who stuck around that this is THE most promising site for Underground Railroad activity in New York.

Here is my account:
undergroundrailroadsafehouses.org

I heard a radio program this morning that supported the residents claims, but I ran into Bill Thompson this morning, and he said that he spoke to reporters who didn't believe there was any proof.

guyfromdobro said...

raulism
Was anything decided yesterday or was this just one of many meetings to come?

raulistic said...

This was an evidentiary meeting, so nothing was supposed to be decided. I think they said that the eminent domain hearing will be May 22.

We can actually win this battle! I encourage people to contact all the City Council representatives, since I think they oversee the EDC. Charles Barron is leading the charge at the moment, but the fight needs to be as broad as possible.

What was really encouraging about the hearing is that AKRF looked so bad. They did the environmental review for the Yankee Stadium, Atlantic Yards and the World Trade Center. Our tax dollars are constantly funding their company, and I think that's a problem.

guyfromdobro said...

Raulism
I'm not for or against the homes being torn down. If in fact, these homes are to be landmarked for historic significance then so be it. I simply don't support saving everything that is old on the basis of its oldness. Sometimes, it really is a case of out with the old and in with the new. There are too many people out there that just hate change on any level. I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of it all soon enough.