The Brooklyn Standard

This article appeared in the 1 April issue of The Brooklyn Eagle.

If you can’t join ’em, beat ’em. That’s the mantra of some Manhattan Beach residents after a long-standing community group slammed the door on renters.

A splinter civic association broke from the Manhattan Beach Community Group last month after renters were barred from joining the 67-year-old organization. The split, which includes defections from the senior group’s leadership, could set the stage for clashes over the development in the affluent southern Brooklyn enclave.

Photo by Daniel Cavanagh.

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The most recent Manhattan Beach Community Group meeting with President Ira Zalcman on the right and Al Slaldone, one of the members of the newly formed Manhattan Beach Neighborhood Association, in the center.

Just when the embattled community group in Manhattan Beach thought their troubles were over, a lawsuit was filed in the wake of an already contentious presidential election.

“You know one thing I have to give people credit for is that they came out to vote,” incumbent president Dr. Ronald Biondo said before the votes were tallied.

With 158 member households voting in an unusually packed auditorium at P.S. 195, Biondo lost Wednesday’s election to challenger Ira Zalcman, his vice president, 110 to 48.

“We really got sanity back,” said Zalcman following his acceptance speech, “and now we can look to the future.”

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Still photos courtesy of Dan Cavanagh at GerritsenBeach.net

Many residents hoped months of mudslinging and name-calling would end Wednesday after the Manhattan Beach Community Group elected its next president. Instead, a suit was filed in the wake of the elections that promises to further embroil community leaders – perhaps even creating a splinter civic association in Manhattan Beach.

Ira Zalcman, newly elected president of the Manhattan Beach Community Group, received applause after his acceptance speech.

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The Wyckoff-Bennett House in Manhattan Beach, the oldest building still in residence in the state, may soon be added to the city’s collection of 22 historic sites. Owner Stuart Mont, who was initially approached seven years ago by the Historic Housing Trust, a division of the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), said the final stage of approval for the sale is this Tuesday.

Built approximately 1766, the Dutch colonial is a well-preserved example of early American architecture, beautiful woodwork and wrought iron hardware. The 18th century estate hosts a house, barn and milk room and also quartered Hessian officers during the American Revolution.

Colleen Alderson, Assistant Director of Planning for the DPR, said the objective of the purchase is to “maintain, preserve and promote” New York’s historic locations and she urged local community leaders to support the effort. If successful, the Wyckoff-Bennett House would be the fourth Brooklyn location secured by the not-for-profit Historical Housing Trust. Other locations include Park Slope’s Old Stone House, Prospect Park’s Lefferts Historic House, and the Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House Museum.

Although both parties declined to put a price tag on the house, the city was confident that enough was allocated and Mont was sure he would be given a fair price. After the sale is complete, Mont plans to be a life tenant and caretaker of the property though his landlords will pick up the tab for any major construction work once the house changes hands.

Some question the wisdom of such a purchase however, citing a budget already stretched thin by a nearly 20% citywide cut over the past two decades, according to a study by New Yorkers for Parks. As it stands, Brooklyn only receives about 10% of the city’s entire DPR capital budget allocation of $300 million, which is barely enough for community upkeep.

Teresa Scavo, chairperson for Brooklyn Community Board 15, cited several pending DPR general maintenance projects as well as the disrepair of nearby historic Gravesend Cemetery, a property currently owned by the city, as disincentive for the purchase. “It’s a waste of money,” she said since the funds will come out of the area’s other projects.

Mont is pleased with the city’s proposal though and is hopeful that the transaction will be completed this year. “I think it’s very positive,” he said. “It guarantees the house will be well protected.”