Douglaston/Little Neck Historic Resources
Orange denotes streets/areas with significant numbers of historic resources
There are two individual buildings landmarked in Douglaston and the Cornelius Van Wyck
farmhouse, the Allen-Beville mansion, which are both located within the Douglaston Historic
District, which covers all of Douglas Manor. The Douglaston Hill Historic District is also
extant, which is approximately half of the area listed as the Douglaston Hill National
Register Historic District.
The Douglaston Historic District Extension, a grouping of about twenty buildings including
mid-19th century farmhouses, early 20th century mansions and a Tudor Revival-style
apartment building, has been calendared by the Landmarks Preservation Commission based
on a report that I authored in 2008. However, it has not been designated an historic district
due to opposition from CM Halloran, who has stated publicly that he will overturn any landmark
designation that does not have owner approval. This has resulted in one of the farmhouses,
39-12 Douglaston Parkway, having inappropriate renovations which resulted in the building
exploding several months ago, and the imminent destruction of 38-60 Douglaston Parkway,
a mid-19th century farmhouse already saved once from destruction when it was moved over
50 years ago.
There are numerous historic buildings in Douglaston and Little Neck, including farmhouses,
early 20th century mansions and commercial buildings. Several complexes of farm buildings,
most notably the Cornell Farm complex, are greatly endangered and represent one of the last
examples of an intact grouping of agricultural buildings left in New York City. There are at least
a half-dozen potential historic districts in Douglaston and Little Neck; all of these neighborhoods
are seriously endangered due to significant new development in these areas.
farmhouse, the Allen-Beville mansion, which are both located within the Douglaston Historic
District, which covers all of Douglas Manor. The Douglaston Hill Historic District is also
extant, which is approximately half of the area listed as the Douglaston Hill National
Register Historic District.
The Douglaston Historic District Extension, a grouping of about twenty buildings including
mid-19th century farmhouses, early 20th century mansions and a Tudor Revival-style
apartment building, has been calendared by the Landmarks Preservation Commission based
on a report that I authored in 2008. However, it has not been designated an historic district
due to opposition from CM Halloran, who has stated publicly that he will overturn any landmark
designation that does not have owner approval. This has resulted in one of the farmhouses,
39-12 Douglaston Parkway, having inappropriate renovations which resulted in the building
exploding several months ago, and the imminent destruction of 38-60 Douglaston Parkway,
a mid-19th century farmhouse already saved once from destruction when it was moved over
50 years ago.
There are numerous historic buildings in Douglaston and Little Neck, including farmhouses,
early 20th century mansions and commercial buildings. Several complexes of farm buildings,
most notably the Cornell Farm complex, are greatly endangered and represent one of the last
examples of an intact grouping of agricultural buildings left in New York City. There are at least
a half-dozen potential historic districts in Douglaston and Little Neck; all of these neighborhoods
are seriously endangered due to significant new development in these areas.
Articles
Avella Rallies For District Landmarking, Queens Tribune, 3/28/2013
Douglaston Historic Debate Renewed, Queens Chronicle, 3/22/2013
Avella questions proposed changes to Douglaston home, Times Ledger, 3/22/2013
Avella, Douglaston Residents Protest Proposed Changes to Historic House, Bayside-Douglaston Patch, 3/15/2013
Cornell Farm Could Be Another Queens Treasure, Queens Chronicle, 3/13/2008
After Major Renovations: Home Still Deemed Historic Enough, Queens Tribune, 4/12/2007
Doug Hill vies for landmark status, Times Ledger, 8/5/2004
Historical society questions Doug Hill house work, Times Ledger, 5/13/2004
Doug Hill finally placed on Landmarks calendar, Times Ledger, 4/15/2004
Landmarks meeting spurs hope for Doug Hill district, Times Ledger, 3/4/2004
Doug homeowners fight developers with lawn signs, Times Ledger, 2/19/2004HISTORIC BATTLE IN DOUGLASTON HILL, 2/1/2004
Douglaston Hill residents insist on historic district, Times Ledger, 1/15/2004
Douglaston Hill Residents Rally To Save Threatened ‘White House,’ Queens Chronicle, 1/15/2004
Landmarks Commission Denies Douglaston Hill Historic District, Queens Chronicle, 12/11/2003
Douglaston Historic Debate Renewed, Queens Chronicle, 3/22/2013
Avella questions proposed changes to Douglaston home, Times Ledger, 3/22/2013
Avella, Douglaston Residents Protest Proposed Changes to Historic House, Bayside-Douglaston Patch, 3/15/2013
Cornell Farm Could Be Another Queens Treasure, Queens Chronicle, 3/13/2008
After Major Renovations: Home Still Deemed Historic Enough, Queens Tribune, 4/12/2007
Doug Hill vies for landmark status, Times Ledger, 8/5/2004
Historical society questions Doug Hill house work, Times Ledger, 5/13/2004
Doug Hill finally placed on Landmarks calendar, Times Ledger, 4/15/2004
Landmarks meeting spurs hope for Doug Hill district, Times Ledger, 3/4/2004
Doug homeowners fight developers with lawn signs, Times Ledger, 2/19/2004HISTORIC BATTLE IN DOUGLASTON HILL, 2/1/2004
Douglaston Hill residents insist on historic district, Times Ledger, 1/15/2004
Douglaston Hill Residents Rally To Save Threatened ‘White House,’ Queens Chronicle, 1/15/2004
Landmarks Commission Denies Douglaston Hill Historic District, Queens Chronicle, 12/11/2003