The entire south campus is part of a Historic District (see map) first proposed in a public hearing in October 1979. In 1981 the Landmarks Preservation Commission published the Clinton Hill Historic Distric Designation Report to further support the proposal. The report focuses on Clinton Hill, or “the Hill”, coming of age from about 1850s – 1920s/1940s. The report provides cultural and architectural details, as well as specifics on famous residences. Success was obtained and the historical designation was made official on November 10, 1981. Due to the Historical designation, CHAOC is limited on its ability to change or modify the current security booth on the south campus.
Being that the Clinton Hill Houses (now Clinton Hill Apartments) were built in the 1940s, there are scant references in this report but which I’ve highlighted below. However, the final excerpt provides the historical reference particular to our current security booth. (While reading, note that in the early 1900s Clinton Avenue became known as the “Gold Coast” due to the affluence of its residents. )
Excerpt 1: “A major blow to the character of Clinton Hill came in the 1940s when two complete blocks of houses were torn down and replaced by high-rise housing erected for employees at the nearby Brooklyn Navy Yard. Among the houses torn down were those of Herbert Pratt, Charles Pratt’s partners Edward T. and Alfred C. Bedford, department store magnate H.L. Batterman, and homes designed by George B. Post, Grosvenor Atterbury, and Montrose Morris.” (p 18-19)
Excerpt 2: “Regarding architectural history of the area: “With the exception of the erection of the Clinton Hill Houses in the 1940s and a modern school and a library, the Clinton Hill area retains its historic architectural character to an astonishing degree.” (Andrew S. Dolkart, p.29-30)
Excerpt 3: “No. 325 is an eleven-story brick apartment building constructed as part of the Clinton Hill Houses… The apartment building replaced two masonry mansions in 1942.” (p. 68)
Excerpt 4: “Although both sides of this treelined block [Clinton betw Lafayette and Green] once contained large mansions all but two have been demolished. The six mansions and four rowhouses on the east side were torn down during WWII and replaced by an apartment complex built for naval personnel assigned to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. ” (p. 72, For info on what used to be on this block, see p. 73-75)
Dancing Lady
Excerpt 5: “The north campus housed enlisted men, while that to the south was primarily for officers. The project was designated by the prominent contemporary architects Harrison, Foulihoux & Abromovitz who were responsible for many notable modern buildings including the Rockefeller Apartments, Lincoln Center, the Time and Life Building and the Empire State Plaza in Albany. The buildings were representative of the many 20th century housing complexes that follow Le Corbusier’s idea of the apartment house set within a park. The four buildings are separated by small lowns with trees and shrubs and they center on an interesting guard house and information kiosk. This small rectangular glass building is sheltered by a curving pavilion that is raised on a round podium. The pavilion is supported by tapered concrete legs. A bronze sculpture of a dancing woman provides a dramatic focus for the kiosk.” (p.73)
According to attendants at the last RC meeting, a current CHAOC capital project is to repair the dancing woman sculpture (although in the RC meeting agenda it was wrongly referenced as a mermaid) as well as to investigate options to upgrade the security facilities located at the kiosk. The other security-related capital project to install cameras throughout campus/buildings, is still in progress. It was communicated that once the installations are complete, there is a potential to keep basement facilities open later than they are currently.
