from the Spanish Camp Preservation Coalition as Public Advicate Mark Green
(behind DiScala), Councilman Jay O'Donovan (middle) and Simeon Bankoff, Historic
Districts Council Executive Director (rear-right), listen. [D.Jones photo]
On Saturday, February 25, preservationists from throughout the city gathered at Spanish Camp on Staten Island to make their case for a Spanish Camp Historic District. On Friday, February 24, the Spanish Camp Preservation Coalition submitted a Request for Evaluation of the Spanish Camp Historic District to the Landmarks Preservation Commission. However, the announcement was overshadowed by a series of angry exchanges initiated by the owner of the land and destroyer of the Dorothy Day Cottages, John DiScala, who boorishly tried to throw us off his land.
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| Picture: John Discala, developer argues with David
Goldfarb from the Spanish Camp Preservation Coalition as Public Advicate Mark Green (behind DiScala), Councilman Jay O'Donovan (middle) and Simeon Bankoff, Historic Districts Council Executive Director (rear-right), listen. [D.Jones photo] |
Speakers at the press conference were:
Several confrontations ensued, first between Mr. DiScala and Mr. Green, then between Mr. DiScala and Anthony Pochia (Jay O’Donovan’s counsel), and finally between Mr. DiScala and Mr. Goldfarb. Mr. Green accused Mr. DiScala of "tricking" the people of the Spanish Camp community, as well as the city, by demolishing the three bungalows after having pledged to donate them to preservationists. "It is as outrageous an action by a private developer as I have seen in my seven years as public advocate."
Lost in the bungalow brouhaha was the opportunity for the preservationists who had gathered from across the city to present their case. Among the preservationists present were Simeon Bankoff, representing the Historic Districts Council, Christabel Gough, representing the Society for the Architecture of the City, and Linda Jones, representing the Preservation League of Staten Island.
The Dorothy Day Cottages are gone, but four cottages have miraculously escaped the path of the bulldozers. One of these was owned by the Catholic Worker and frequented by Dorothy Day. The beautiful open space, as well as the ocean and lake frontage allow us to appreciate the views enjoyed by Dorothy Day and the other residents of the community that was Spanish Camp.
We have an opportunity to create a memorial to Dorothy Day, who lived and worked in peace with her neighbors at Spanish Camp. Staten Island has experienced too many losses of landmarks and other historic buildings in recent times. The carnage goes on. Someone must stand in the way of the bulldozers. We turn again to the Landmarks Preservation Commission and the city officials who represent us.
We call for the immediate calendaring of a hearing for the Spanish Camp Historic District. We call on our representatives to support immediate designation.
Do it now, before Mr. DiScala revs up his bulldozer again.