SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

Photo by Lisanne Anderson

The homeowners living in the Victorian Flatbush section of Brooklyn who now seek to have their area designated as a historic district to preserve the large, beautiful 100-year-old homes has a new ally on their side: Councilman Jumaane Williams.

Williams sent out a press release this morning announcing that he joined advocates and community leaders on Sunday in calling for the Landmarks Preservation Commission to accelerate the process of landmarking Victorian Flatbush.

The release said:

“Victorian Flatbush is one of the most unique residential areas in Brooklyn, a borough that has a rich and varied architectural history,” said Council Member Williams. “However, many people are unaware of these beautiful homes right in the center of south Brooklyn, as they often associate Brooklyn architecture as either brownstones or warehouse lofts. Due to the fact that these neighborhoods are not protected as landmarks, many of these homeowners have made alterations to these residences that often times do not resemble the original architectural designs or style, and thus are unintentionally altering history. Additionally, landmarking these neighborhoods will have a positive impact on civic pride that cannot be measured. As such, I strongly encourage the LPC designate the entirety of Victorian Flatbush as historic landmark districts in order to preserve these immaculate homes and communities for generations to come.”

The statement goes on to point out that the landmarking process began more than 35 years ago, when several sections of Victorian Flatbush won historic designation. Along with the Flatbush Development Corporation, Williams and neighbors are looking to see Beverley Square East, Beverley Square West, Caton Park, Ditmas Park West, South Midwood and West Midwood join the already-designated sections to create a complete Victoriam Flatbush historic zone.

In March, the advocates sent a 437-page application to Landmarks, and the LPC has announced a survey team will be dispatched this summer to assess the homes in the area.

Borough President Marty Markowitz and Assemblymember Rhoda Jacobs are also both behind the plan.

“More than 100 years ago, New Yorkers looking to escape the ‘outer borough’ of Manhattan began building a beautiful suburban community in the heart of Brooklyn. And to this day, every time visitors come to Victorian Flatbush, they ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ because they can’t believe such an architectural gem exists in the heart of America’s biggest, most cosmopolitan city,” Markowitz said. “There’s no question that we must do everything in our power to ensure generations to come can appreciate these beautiful homes and communities.”

Source: Jim Henderson via Wikipedia

The homeowners living in the “Victorian Flatbush” section of Midwood and Ditmas Park are looking to protect their neighborhood from overzealous developers. According to a report by NY 1, residents are looking to shield their century old neighborhood by appealing to the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission to receive a special historical district status.

Residents fear that their neighborhood, which stretches over parts of Flatbush and Midwood and features a cluster of gorgeous Victorian style homes, is vulnerable to developers looking to build high-rise buildings. They also fear the actions of homeowners who might significantly alter the historic exteriors and interiors of their homes without a permit granting express permission.

“We don’t want to see this area changed, we want it to stay the way it was when the planners, the developers, the builders, built this 110, 112 years ago,” Brooklyn Borough Historian Ron Schweiger told NY 1.

The neighborhood, which is sort of an anomaly for the city, features tree-lined streets filled with unattached and unique Victorian-style wooden homes, all built before the turn of the 19th century. The homes were built as a response to the construction of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit line to Coney Island and they are considered an example of the earliest suburbs.

In response to the request of community members, the Landmarks Preservation Commission says they will survey the district to determine if they qualify for historical status.

Source: library.rpa.org

The Jamaica Bay Greenway coalition is hoping to open new bike lanes across the city, including places like Midwood, Marine Park and Manhattan Beach. The New York Daily News is reporting that the coalition is first meeting with Community Board 10 in South Queens to present their plans for expanded lanes near Howard Beach, but will soon host similar powwows in Southern Brooklyn.

Some of the proposed lanes, which can be examined in greater detail by clicking here, cut through parts of Midwood, Marine Park and one loops through Manhattan Beach. Other proposed lanes loop around the Canarsie Pier, Jamaica Bay and Jacob Riis Park.

The Jamaica Bay Greenway Coalition plans to visit Community Boards covering Marine Park and Canarsie in the near future but will not force the issue if residents express concerns.

“We’re going to communities to find out their interest,” Le’alani Schaumburg, a community planner with the National Parks Service told the Daily News.

1315 Ave. N (Source: Google Maps)

The police have arrested the boyfriend of slain Midwood woman Yevonnee Gefner, whose decomposing body was found with a bizarre confession note that read, “I killed my wife she’s putting spells on me.” The New York Daily News is reporting that the man, identified as 62-year-old Ronald Friedfertig, beat and stabbed his wife to death in their apartment located at 1315 Avenue N.

According to a CBS NY report, despite the note that identified Gefner as Friedfertig’s wife, the couple was not married. After Friedfertig allegedly killed Gefner, he attempted to kill himself by jumping in front of a Q-train as it entered the Avenue M station. He suffered a broken neck and arm and was subsequently being treated at the Kings County Hospital.

The murder has shaken the otherwise quiet community.

“It’s a very Orthodox Jewish community, very tight-knit and everybody keeps an eye on one another,” neighbor Michael Wright said to CBS. “It’s kind of hard to have a murder right here.”

Friedfertig has been charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon.

The Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition (FJCC), an organization comprised of a broad spectrum of community and business leaders dedicated to safeguarding the interests of the greater Flatbush Jewish community, has organized the second mayoral forum to take place locally.

The forum, to be held in Midwood, begins tonight at 8:00 p.m. Unlike last week’s forum, which did touch on topics of Jewish interest but also swung to broader issues for the general public, tonight’s forum will focus largely on frum issues.

According to organizers, Christine Quinn, Bill Thompson, Bill de Blasio, John Liu and Anthony Weiner have all confirmed their participation.

The event takes place at P.S. 193 Gil Hodges School, 2515 Avenue L (corner Bedford Avenue).

For more information, e-mail Flatbushjcc@gmail.com.

Source: mikey k via flickr

The body of a decomposing woman was found in a Midwood home last night displaying a confessional note listing a bizarre motive. NBC NY is reporting that the note said, “I killed my wife she’s putting spells on me.”

The victim was identified as 57-year-old Yevonne Gefner. Her body was found inside her Avenue N home after neighbors called 911 complaining about a foul odor. According to an ABC report, police found Gefner’s body riddled with multiple stab wounds in the back, noting that when discovered, she had been dead for a week.

In perhaps accounting for the bizarre note which complained of witchcraft as a motive for the slaying, Gefner’s husband was subsequently found at Kings County Hospital’s psychiatric ward, where he had a broken neck and arm.

Yeshiva World News is reporting that the suspect may be the person who jumped in front of a Q train two weeks ago at Avenue J. That person was taken to Kings County Hospital at the time, the site notes.

Police were told by neighbors that the couple had been together for about two years.

The plaque, dedicated to the memory of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, before it was ripped out of the stone. Source: Alyssa Katz (@alykatzz) via Twitter

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Source: Wikipedia

Residents near the intersection of Avenue I and East 16th Street in Midwood were distressed to discover that a 67-year-old plaque honoring former President Franklin D. Roosevelt was ripped from its foundation.

News 12 is reporting that the memorial, which was erected in 1946 by the Terrace Gardens Men’s Club, was stolen sometime before April 19, the date when it was first noticed to be missing. The theft of the plaque, commemorating the 32nd president, fell one week after the 68th anniversary of the death of Roosevelt, who died April 12, 1945.

Residents have filed a police report and consider the return of the monument the top priority.

“Just return it, no questions asked,” one local resident told News 12. ”Turn it into the 70th Precinct and lets move on,” she said, citing the memorial as a source of immense community pride.

Photo via ny.eater.com

I have to admit, I am a little wary of writing this article. The daily lines to get a slice of Di Fara’s incredibly perfect pizza are already so long that I am loath to spread the word of the new spinoff spot located just a few doors down (1012 East 15th Street) that features an expanded menu. Still, if the food is just as good as Di Fara’s, no amount of ink spilled will stop foodies from flocking to Avenue J in Midwood.

According to a report by NY Eater, MD Kitchen is officially open for business, offering an expanded menu of delicious Italian foods that Di Fara used to feature before pizza became the only menu item.

Opened by the children of pizza master Dominic DeMarco, MD Kitchen will be serving up everything from pasta dishes, salads, heroes, sandwiches, wings, fries and hot dogs. The name MD Kitchen was humorously explained by Dominic’s daughter Maggie DeMarco on a Facebook entry.

“Mama DeMarco’s for our mom, Mikey DeMarco for our nephew, Maggie DeMarco for me? What it does not mean is medical doctor.”

Personally I don’t care what it stands for, I will be heading over ASAP to see how the new menu stacks up to the incredible pizza experience just a few doors down.

Source: Philip Kamrass / Times Union

The Office For New Americans (ONA), launched by Governor Andrew Cuomo, is a new statewide office whose sole focus is to assist immigrants economically, in learning English and  preparing for the U.S. citizenship exam, according to a report by Voices of New York.

One of the new 27 offices will be located in Midwood, at the FEGS Health & Human Services (938 Kings Highway).

“This office is a good framework for building the capacity we need to offer critical services to immigrants, especially if immigration reform is approved,” said Karen Kaminsky, deputy executive director at NYIC.

The ONA, whose budget will be $3,440,000, will also assist immigrants with starting and growing new businesses and help young people receive Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which would allow young immigrants under 16 who have illegally  resided in the United States for some time to be treated with more leniency.

A 26-year-old special needs man has gone missing in Midwood, and police are looking to reunite him with his family.

The man, photographed above, was last seen this afternoon at Coney Island Avenue and Avenue J, according to the NY Scanner Twitter account.

Police have responded with a Level 1 mobilization.

If you have seen this person, please call 911 immediately.