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March 16, 2007
Railroad homes derailed again
The Brooklyn Paper
AKRF, the environmental-consulting firm with a reputation for minimizing the environmental impacts of any development, is releasing a study that (surprise!) says exactly what their client, NYC, wants them to say:
A city-hired consulting firm revealed this week that there is no conclusive evidence that seven houses on Duffield and Gold streets were part of the fabled fugitive slave network.
“It [the Duffield houses] ... does not have a significant association with a national figure of the Underground Railroad and his/her Underground Railroad activity,” the report concluded.
The report by AKRF, a consulting firm that researches historic claims, also refuted residents’ contention that the buildings were connected to known abolitionists.
“Of course they’re going to say that,” said Joy Chatel, the owner of 227 Duffield St. “They’re trying to whitewash the truth — that my house was part of the Underground Railroad, and that it was owned by known abolitionists.”
NoLandGrab readers are familiar with AKRF's work. The firm was hired by Bruce Ratner to do the Atlantic Yards Environmental Impact Statement, where (surprise!) they found the Atlantic Yards footprint to be "blighted" and the project to have very few significant impacts on the environment.
The Duffield St. houses are facing the wrecking ball. Everyone who is interested in fighting abuse of eminent domain and preserving our history in Brooklyn should try to make next week's hearing.
City Hall
Tuesday, March 20, 11 am at City Hall
UPDATE: This meeting has been postponed until April 11.
Posted by lumi at March 16, 2007 1:14 PM