Long Island City residents say a developer destroyed the facade of a historic building after a push to landmark it. NY1's Clodagh McGowan filed the following report.
The sound of construction is all too familiar for people who live in Long Island City. But residents were shocked to watch workers remove the ornate facade from the former Elks Lodge Building on 44th Road Tuesday, after a recent campaign launched to save it.
"Developers are getting developer happy. They're building very quickly and without respect to the past," said Amadeo Plaza, of the newly formed Court Square Civic Association.
Officials say Alwest Equities purchased the building last year, with plans of demolishing it to build luxury condos. We were unable to reach the developers for a response.
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer says he sent a letter to the city last week asking for landmark status at the site.
"The owner of the building in an attempt to not have the building landmarked sent workers here to destroy the historic and architecturally significant elements of this building. That was a crime," said Van Bramer.
The Department of Buildings confirms the work was done without a permit. A stop work order and a violation have been issued so far. A spokesperson says the agency will monitor the site closely.
"We want to make sure the building doesn't undergo any more damage," said Van Bramer.
Historian Bob Singleton says, beyond the building's architectural significance, it represents an important part of the borough's social history.
"The Elk's organization in the borough of Queens was the premiere social organization. This was the powerhouse of the borough throughout most of the 20th Century," said Singleton, the executive director of the Greater Astoria Historical Society.
Singleton says the damage can be completely restored--which is something these residents are glad to hear.