Landmark Board OKs Contentious 'Millennial Row Homes' In Bed-Stuy

BED-STUY, BROOKLYN — Four modern row houses that neighbors have said will be an eyesore on their historic Bed-Stuy block have gotten the go-ahead from the city's landmarks board after slight changes to their design.

The city's Landmarks Preservation Commission voted unanimously last week to approve the 39 Chauncey St. development, which first faced the board in December.

The decision comes after architects revised their design at the request of the board, who largely liked the "modern approach," but said they wanted a different color palette for the building and more differentiation between the four row houses.

The biggest change for the new design is a change from yellow to red brick.

"It's a great improvement," Commissioner Diana Chapin said. "It’s growing on me. I feel much more comfortable with this, I think the brick color has helped a great deal."

The commissioners were less satisfied with the changes architects made to differentiate the buildings by giving two of the houses different "mortar joint" colors, or the color for the spaces between the bricks.

Their approval comes with the condition that architects work with their staff to further differentiate the buildings by changing up the brick color or brick type.

The row houses have sparked contention among neighbors, who have said the modern development is "dramatically out of place" in their historic neighborhood.

The historic lot, which is found in the Stuyvesant Heights Historic District, has been empty since its original homes were torn down after a fire in the 1990s and early 2000s.

The landmarks board said they received five more letters from neighbors that are still opposed to the design before their vote on Tuesday.

About 30 neighbors, the community board and several cultural organizations had previously come out against the plans.