Landmarks Takes Step To Protect Old Carroll Gardens Kindergarten

CARROLL GARDENS, NY — The city took the first step to protect a former Carroll Gardens kindergarten and the neighboring home after politicians got wind of plans to tear down one of the historic structures.

The Landmark Preservation Commission will vote to calendar 236 and 238 President Street at their Tuesday meeting, the first formal step in designating buildings as protected structures, according to the agency.

The move comes after a push by elected officials and the local community board to save the kindergarten-turned-home at 236 President St. when they found out a developer planned to demolish it for condos.

"The beautiful, historic nature of many of the buildings in Carroll Gardens is one reason why so many people love living in the neighborhood," Councilman Brad Lander wrote in a letter to the LPC last month urging them to save the buildings.

"Especially given the real demolition threat facing the former Hans S. Christian Memorial Kindergarten, we must rally together to urge LPC to help us save 236 and 238 President Street, and in doing so, save a bit of Carroll Gardens history for future generations."

Developer Avo Construction is currently in the process of buying 236 President St. with plans to destroy it and build a six-story condo building in its place, the New York Post reported. The neighboring 238 President St. currently isn't in danger of being torn down.

Lawmaker's efforts were also supported by folk singer Joan Baez who wrote a letter to the LPC calling for the protection, the Post reported. Her grandfather and father preached at 236 President St. when it was a Methodist church.

"In addition to their architectural beauty, these two buildings are of unique social and historical significance, and they should be protected and celebrated," Baez wrote, according to the Post.

The ornate home at 236 President St. first opened as the Hans S. Christian Memorial Kindergarten in 1897 as a gift from Christian's widow, according to a Brooklyn Daily Eagle report at the time. It was one of the first free kindergartens in the borough.

It later became a church then was converted into a home in 1974, Brownstoner reported. It was listed for sale last year at $5.4 million.

The neighboring 238 President St. was built in 1853 and Christian bought sometime in the 1880s, expanded it and made it the Brooklyn Deaconess Home of the Methodist Episcopal Church, according to the LPC. It was later converted into an apartment building.

The Post reported that the preservation efforts have scared off Avo, who tried to back out of the sale but told the paper the owner's refused.

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