March 5, 2009: Vol. 32, No. 9

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March 5, 2009 / Brooklyn news / Not Just Nets / Downtown / The Downtown plan

Demolition on Duffield clears way for fourth hotel on block

By Mike McLaughlin

The Brooklyn Paper

A historic Duffield Street home believed to be a hotbed of Abolitionist activity in the 19th century is being torn down, possibly to make way for the fourth hotel on the Downtown block.

On Monday, V3 Hotels, a company led by twentysomething impresario Ben Nash and Borough President Markowitz’s former chief of staff Greg Atkins, started demolishing 231 Duffield St., a few doors away from its planned Hotel Indigo. Sources familiar with the V3’s plans told The Brooklyn Paper the company intends another hotel on the street — which, ironically, was renamed by the city “Abolitionist Way” last year.

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“V3 is finalizing its plans for the site, and will share them as soon as it’s possible to do so,” said Atkins in a prepared statement.

It would be the fourth hotel on the one block, between and Fulton and Willoughby streets in Downtown. A Sheraton and W Hotel are also rising on the block.

The city cleared the way for new development, including a park and underground parking lot known as Willoughby Square, after issuing a report in 2007 that downplayed the likely historic significance of 231 Duffield and several other antebellum row-houses on the block.

But scholars scorned the city’s report as flawed. Advocates cite research that suggests that the sub-basement of 231 Duffield is connected to other buildings in the fabled Underground Railroad.

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“This is the murder of history and the destruction of a proud moment in American history — people standing up to the odious institution of slavery,” said Raul Rothblatt, vocal opponent of the destruction of Duffield Street’s history.

The physical remnants of the Abolitionist history of Duffield Street could be reduced to just one house — No. 227 — which has more definitive links to the Underground Railroad than its neighbors and may one day become a museum or historical site. The future of that property is not certain though, because its owner, Joy Chatel, faces personal financial problems.

Members of Families United for Racial and Economic Equality will rally at the house on Monday, March 9 at 11 am.

Updated 03:32 pm, March, 6 2009: Story was updated to include information about a rally by FUREE on Monday.

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Reader Feedback

Raul Rothblatt from Prospect Heights says:

I am a supporter of bringing Brooklyn forward by celebrating Brooklyn's Abolitionist history. I welcome hotels on Duffield Street- visitors will be thrilled to visit these historic homes.

We have a chance to create a great tourist destination by incorporating these historic homes into futures developments.

This country has seen too many development schemes that have disregarded the realities of finance or geography.

But the discussions of development ignore what was really special about 231 Duffield. It was owned by known Abolitionists, and members of Plymouth Church.

The noted historians who were the Peer Reviewers of the NYC EDC's study of block did not ignore 231 Duffield. The academics hired by the city were nearly unanimous in urging the city to preserve this history.

Most notably, Dr. Judith Wellman, developer of the widely used Wellman scale to evaluate Underground Railroad claims, gave 231 Duffield high marks in its probable connection to the UGRR. Dr. Cheryl LaRoche says that "Duffield Street is THE most exciting site for Underground Railroad research in the country."

Or at least it was an exciting site until yesterday. It's a sad day to lose this house without any archeologist looking into the physical evidence of hidden passages for escaped slaves.

And it is a sad day for the Brooklyn Paper that such an important historical site without mentioning the Abolitionists who lived there. They deserve the last word.

March 5, 2009, 9:09 am

sssur from garment dist in the house says:

no W Hotel on Duffiled Street, it will be an ALOFT, different brand. holla.

March 5, 2009, 4:21 pm

John E. Donegan,Jr from 231 Duffield Street says:

There us no historical importance to Duffield Street Row Houses which have been "Altered and Gutted," since 1943.
The sidewalk vault under "My," building 231 was installed
by my family as a "under side walk vault," and we have
the original permits.
Your bellowing Sir pertaining false information on "MY,"
building, Ben Nash, Greg Atkins and referal to Marty Markowitz is delusional!
V3 Hotels impresario Ben Nash isn't at fault here nor, Greg Atkins or Marty Markowitz. No. Sir I'm in charge of the 231
Duffield "Shake!" I wrote my "Oral History, and wrote my
Critical Thinking Paper on 'The Historical Values Od Slavery. Could have been settle!' It was also me who petition the Community Board 2 to Co-Named Duffield Street Abolishnist
Place. It's recorded with Community Board 2 and it's a fact!
V3 objective is to bring a vibrant life and Tourism and Travel
Desitination to "Brooklyn!" Ben Nash Hotelier, Project Developer Greg Atkins and myself will bring Duffield Street back from the blight it has sufferor from the late 1960's. In the meantime back off when you don't have the "PROPER FACTS!" AKRFReport was correct in stating their independent "REPORT!"
Respecfully,
JEDonegan,Jr

March 7, 2009, 11:14 am

John E. Donegan, Jr from 231 Duffield Street says:

Given the seeming controversy over the demolition of my property 231 Duffield Street and the subsequent villification of V3 Hotels, Ben Nash and Greg Atkins, I want to set the record straight.

First, I went into partnership with V3 Hotels and Mr. Ben Nash of my own auspices, for there is no historical importance to the row houses on Duffield Street Row Houses because they have been altered and gutted from the inside since 1943. The sidewalk vault under "my building" 231 was installed by my family and we have the original permits. My property of 231 Duffield Street do not have any secret tunnels, hidden rooms or the like.

I am aware of the history of Duffield Street for I was the one who petitioned the Community Board 2 to co-name Duffield Street Abolishonist Place; a fact that is recorded with Community Board 2. However, please also be aware that certain property owners on the street tried to use this history to save their properties from Eminent Domain. But as I said before, my property of 231 Duffield Street has been drastically and substantially altered and its connection to abolitionists is tenuous at best.

Mr. Nash, Mr. Atkins and my objective is to revive downtown Brooklyn. Its hotel projects will bring much needed jobs and capital to the neighborhood in today’s depressed economy.

Respectfully
J.E. Donegan, Jr.

March 8, 2009, 1:54 pm

David Brown from Lower East Side says:

I really am glad to see 231 Duffield get gutted. The Duffield houses are an eyesore whose time has come and gone. I just hope 277 goes with it.

March 8, 2009, 8:02 pm

John Donegan from Dumbo says:

March 9, 2009, 9:35 pm

John Donegan from 231 Duffield Street says:

The demolition of 231 Duffield Street by V3 Hotels began early March of 2009, and ever since then, there have been considerable attention paid to the property, as well as controversy. Websites such as Curbed called the demolition a “dirty deed”, while Raul Rothblatt commented to the Brooklyn Paper that it was a “the murder of history”. A memorial service of sorts was held next door at 227 Duffield Street on March 9th, praising the abolitionists who supposedly lived at the address. Amidst the opinions and protests, one voice is noticeably missing: that of myself, John Donegan, the owner of the property.

I take umbrage those certain individuals who do not know all the facts are vilifying V3 Hotels, Mr. Ben Nash and Mr. Greg Atkins. Also, when presented with the facts, disregard them if they do not fit their opinions or agendas. They are acting like it is their building that is being torn down.”

One of those individuals includes Raul Rothblatt, who runs the web blog Duffield St. Underground. Mr. Rothblatt’s blog had detailed the dismantling of 231 Duffield Street. The March 9th blog highlighted the memorial, as well as posted photos of alleged hiding places for escaped slaves located at 231 Duffield Street. I wrote a comment in the blog:

--cont--

March 13, 2009, 11:38 pm

John Donegan from 231 Duffield Street says:

My comment was similar to my previous comments here, was not approved and did not appear, thus prompting myself to respond with a second comment:

“I see that you did not approve my comment on your blog considering my property of 231 Duffield Street. It seems that there are blogs such as this one, as well as other articles written about this property and many people are speaking for me. Please let me stress that the developer, V3 Hotel, is not "hoping" to build a hotel there. It is happening and a "go" project, as I am a partner with V3. If you continue to not post my comments, which speak the truth, then I will take other avenues to make my voice heard and thus speak for myself.”

This comment was approved and Mr. Rothblatt replied with following:

“This blog will post or reject comments according to our editorial discretion. We heartily invite you to start your own blog where your own voice can be heard! We are strident supporters of freedom of speech – including our own – and we reserve the right to reject comments without explanation.

Please keep the blogosphere posted about the progress of construction at V3’s other site at 231 Duffield Street.”

--cont--

March 13, 2009, 11:39 pm

John Donegan from 231 Duffield Street says:

Mr. Rothblatt totally contradicted himself. It seems that he supports freedom of speech only as long as it is what he wants to hear and fits his agenda. Then what is the point of letting people comment on your blog?
Furthermore, he is writing about my property, so I have a right to be heard. He is taking it upon himseldf to speak for me in regards to the building and I certainly did not ask him to advocate for me.

The supposed connection that Duffield Street has to Abolitionists and the Underground Railroad was never brought up until the City placed the buildings on the street into Eminent Domain. It was only after that, did people started bringing up this history in order to save their homes.
The city did not take the Duffield Street buildings out of Eminent Domain because of historic value, but to avoid a lawsuit. As I understand it, they didn’t want to give 227 Duffield Street any money or go into litigation with them.

--cont--

March 13, 2009, 11:51 pm

John Donegan from 231 Duffield Street says:

As for 231 Duffield Street, I want to re-iterate that there are no secret tunnels or rooms for escaped slaves to hide in. The photographs shown on the Duffield Street Underground blog merely showed typical structural and architectural elements of the buildings of the time. There is a crawlspace right between the first floor and the basement but it is so small that only a cat can go hide in there. There has been claims about a tunnel connecting all the buildings on Duffield Street. There are no tunnels connecting my property to anywhere. There are no tunnels, period.

In 2007, AKRF conducted a report on the Duffield Street houses, a report which has come under fire and criticism by pro-Abolitionists because of the houses it researched on: 223, 225, 227, 231, 233 and 235 Duffield Street, only 227 seem to have some evidence of Abolitionism, but with no direct involvement with the Underground Railroad. When I was attending Marymount Manhattan College, I did a research paper on slavery which was nominated for an award. During my research I have come to the conclusion that the Abolitionist Movement and the Underground Railroad was occuring all over Brooklyn. Certainly there are other places in Brooklyn where the Abolitionist Movement and Underground Railroad were more active and thus more relevant than Duffield Street in terms of historical preservation

March 13, 2009, 11:51 pm

john from ditmas park says:

Brooklyn lacks publically accessible historical sites of every variety. In fact, Brooklyn is the most "under-museumed" and "under-parked" of the five boroughs. Borough Hall would make a great venue for an American history museum, with a gallery devoted to the abolitionists.

March 17, 2009, 3:36 pm

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