BROOKLYN RECORDPublished by Brownstoner Media | ||||
« NYPD Steps It Up In Clinton Hill | Main | Broken Social Scene at the Hook »
Many have wondered about the history behind the little red building on 3rd Street and 3rd Avenue. The New York and Long Island Coignet Stone Company building, also home to Edwin Litchfield’s Brooklyn Improvement Company and lovingly nicknamed Pippin after the radiator company that last inhabited it, received individual landmark status on Tuesday.
According to the Commission’s report, the building was one of the first concrete structures in the nation. Built between 1872 and 1873, it was designed by William Field and Son to serve as the main office of the Coignet Stone Company and was meant to highlight Coignet (artificial) stone, which was really a type of concrete invented by Francois Coignet in the mid-19th century.
The building currently stands in solitude on the corner of 3rd and 3rd but will have a new neighbor at some point in the future – Whole Foods.
Commission Landmarks Brooklyn Office Building [LPC]
Posted by Corie at June 29, 2006 09:44 AM
Thank God! This place is a jewel.
Posted by: Anon at June 29, 2006 11:37 AM
YES!
Posted by: eliz at June 29, 2006 11:50 AM
Does anyone know how this building will be integrated into the Whole Foods development? Does the designation change Whole Foods' plans?
Posted by: BigBubba at June 29, 2006 01:21 PM
I spoke with their PR person a while back (not sure how much I trust a PR person, though) and she said that they had no plans to alter it. I think the original idea was to use it as office space. They are basically building the Whole Foods around the building, which was always the plan.
Posted by: corie at June 29, 2006 02:08 PM
Thank goodness. You think its too late to petition for a "Gowanus Historic District"? I'm not kidding!
Posted by: amg2000 at June 29, 2006 02:10 PM
I think this house should be relocated, maybe somewhere in prospect park..I see this all the time in 'this old house'. The historic aspects would be maintained.
Posted by: anon at June 29, 2006 02:51 PM
Thank you wonderful Landmarks Commisioners. They really get it! This is a very historic area. I actually think it's sacred ground because the very horrible Battle of Brooklyn was waged here and this is where the tide turned and the Patriots led by Nathaniel Greene (as in Ft. Greene) suffered huge losses, but luckily they were able to get General Washington across the river to safety. And now even though pedestrians cannot cross 3rd Ave. safely, vehicular traffic will be able to enjoy the view as they cross over to shop at overpriced Whole Foods!
Posted by: Anonymous at June 29, 2006 05:36 PM
It's not an "old house" it an old company office building. It was build for industrial use.
There is a great engraving of this building, when new, hanging in the second floor lobby of the Montalk culb on 8th Avenue in the Slope, no brick face on it yet. The whole block was a stone company.
Posted by: Thank you Landmarks Commission at July 1, 2006 01:59 PM
corie wrote:
"Thank goodness. You think its too late to petition for a "Gowanus Historic District"? I'm not kidding!"
FROGG made a presentation to the Historic District Council two years ago to see about getting a city landmarks district for the canal area. This wasn't viewed as very likely by the HDC especially given the backup in landmarks.
In the mean time the Army Corp submitted the Gowanus Canal District for a National Historic Registry status. The state of New York gave its approval for the National Historic status some time ago but the final approval is still need by the City and that seems to be a-long-time coming. The Army Corp had listed the old Coignet/Litchfiels/Peppin building for special status under the registry which would give special federal tax breaks for rehabilitate this building. We all just need to push to get this finalized and we will have a Gowanus Canal National Historic District.
Posted by: FROGG at July 1, 2006 02:19 PM