WGPA

Old Dutch Mustard Co.
Photo: Maria Sochaniewicz

The Old Dutch Mustard Company Building was designed by Theobald Engelhardt and constructed in 1908. The Old Dutch Mustard Co. first occupied the building in 1939, and purchased it outright in 1944. In 2006, Steiner Equities was "behooved" to demolish it to make way for a new luxury condominium development.

Although the building is lost, WPA will continue to document the history of the building, including its recent use as an arts and event space. Stay tuned...

The Waterfront Preservation Alliance is committed to the preservation and revitalization of Greenpoint & Williamsburg. During the past year, the built fabric of our neighborhoods have come under threat from any number of directions: development pressures of a booming housing market; a massive rezoning that placed more emphasis on development and affordable housing than on neighborhood context and quality of life; a City Council that chose to ignore the community’s wishes on the designation of 184 Kent Avenue; and a massive fire that claimed the most significant components of the Greenpoint Terminal Market.

There can no longer be any doubt that the industrial buildings that defined our neighborhoods are now under threat. So too is the rich fabric of residential, commercial, civic and religious buildings that surrounds these industrial artifacts. As our neighborhoods undergo long-anticipated change, it is important to remember and protect the built fabric that defines the character of Greenpoint & Williamsburg. We have an opportunity right now to encourage smart and appropriate new development while at the same time preserving our neighborhood character and history.

Shown here are just a few of the existing buildings that define the character of our neighborhoods. If you know of other buildings or blocks that should be protected, or if you would like to help WPA protect our architectural heritage, please write us at landmarks (at) waterfrontalliance.org.

If you see our postcards in neighborhood shops, please take a moment to fill one and send it in to the Landmarks Preservation Commission (if you must, keep one for yourself). Or, send an e-mail supporting WPA to the Landmarks Preservation Commission by clicking here.

The Domino Sugar Refinery is among the most significant waterfront industrial sites in New York City. Soon, the Domino site will be rezoned for residential use. The Waterfront Preservation Alliance believes that the historic buildings at the Domino site should be preserved and adapted for residential or other uses. Domino is a wonderful opportunity for historic preservation, new development and affordable housing to work together to create a better New York.

Please show your support for the preservation of the historic Domino refinery buildings by signing our online petition to designate Domino as an official New York City Landmarks.

Today is the last day to submit comments to LPC regarding the proposed landmark designation of the McCarren Park Play Center (aka, our Pool). If you have not testified or sent in written testimony yet, you can email your comments to LPC here.

While we had noticed this a week or two ago, we were just reminded by one of our far-flung correspondents of the large number of recently opened windows at the Domino Sugar Refinery. Now this building has stood solidly in its place for almost 125 years, so we can only hope that a few weeks of exposure to the elements will not do any damage. Still, it raises questions of what the developers are doing with this important historic resource, and why they are there are suddenly dozens of windows left open during the coldest part of the year.

Seriously, in addition to the potential for damage to the structure caused by exposure, freezing pipes and freezing and thawing masonry, such neglect invites vandals and explorers.

Hopefully, the Landmarks Preservation Commission will do the right thing and designate the refinery as a landmark (you can encourage them to do the right thing by signing our petition). Until then, please, close those windows.