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February 14,1974 PHOENIX Page 3Boerum Hill OK'dAs HistoricProperty Values UpAuxiliary Police Vo!untoCheck-in,Train on Montague BY CORRINE COLEMAN R V m n w i M F m i a v j __i i , . . -The performance of communityservice without the necessity ofleaving familiar territory will bepossible for new Brooklyn Heightsmembers of the 84th PrecinctAuxilliary police force now that anew ruling allows volunteers tosign in and out at the precinct%u2019smini-station on 157 Montague St.The switch from the previousrequirement for check in at theGold St. precinct headquarters ispart of a major effort to enlist newauxilliary members, saidDetective Robert Ferrentino,coordinator of the volunteer groupwho acknowledged the reluctanceof present and potential membersto make the Gold St. trip.The procedural change for thevolunteers (who were always ableto perform patrol duties in theHeights) comes hand in hand withthe start of a ten-week trainingcourse for new members,Ferrentino announced. Theclasses, which will be held weekly,on Monday evenings, begin onMon. Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. at the HolyTrinity Church Auditorium on 157Montague St. Applications for theseries can be obtained at the ministation.The mini-station which openedeight months ago on June 15, 1973,occupies the small vestibule of theHoly Trinity Church. A woodendesk and two chairs are set besidethe large window looking out on theHeights' main shopping thoroughfare.The informal arrangement of thesmall station brings in people whowould otherwise have little contactwith the police, says Officer BillHurcomb of the 84th%u2019s Neighborhood Police Team, whowelcomes the contact with thecommunity. Though the Gold St.station is the same distance fromthe Height%u2019s center as was the oldstation house on Poplar St., Hurcomb believes that Heightsresidents think of it as fartheraway. The mini-stations thus hasalso become a psychological Boostto residents who may never enterthe door.Montague St. merchants, whothrough their Heights Board ofTrade Organization pay thestation%u2019s phone bill, are certainlyhappy about the coming of theannex. Indeed, they feel, the fact ofpolice activity on the shoppingblock, must operate as a deterrentto the potential criminal.The station, performing all%u201cnormal police functions%u201d exceptarrests is officially open from 10a.m. to 11 p.m. from Mon to Fri.and during daytime hours on Sat.according to Hurcomb. However,since it is also necessary to patrolthe nearby streets, the MontagueSt. door is sometimes lockedduring these hours. An enlargedauxilliary team could ensure aconstant open door police, saysHurcomb who is particularlyconcerned about the summermonths, when police vacation timerolls around.Allan Kaufer, head of theHeights Board of Trade, agreesthat an enlarged auxilliary forcecan make the difference. We needthe auxilliary police to man thestation, so that patrolmen can walkthe streets, Kaufer says, Addingthat the Board is discussing suchsecurity m easures as interconnecting storekeeper alarmsystems, he emphasizes that theessential need for Heights safety is%u201cmore uniformed police.\Officer Hurcomb, on the neighborhood team since its inceptiontwo years ago, has been a memberof the 84th for the past nine years.Facing the fact of the decrease inthe 84th's rolls from 250 officers toabout 150 since the city's manpower freeze, over the past years.Hurcomb repeats the request foradditional auxilliary police whilenoting also the need for civilianschool crossing guards. There areseven school crossings in BrooklynHeights and 19 throughout theprecinct he advises, and adds thatall but one or two are covered bypolice officers who should be freeto patrol the neighborhoods.Meanwhile Hurcomb mans themini-station, and alternates withother officers including DetectiveFerrentino. And along with takingcrime reports, checking the nearbystreets and keeping in contact withpatrol cars in the area, the officersare pleased to offer such servicesas taking the fingerprints for ayoung woman who, though needingthe police signature, was reluctantto travel to Gold St.Boerum Hill has joined the ranks of local neighborhoods officially designated as Historic Districts, by action of the NYC Board of Estimate on Feb. 7, and Boerum Hill Association Dennis Holt hailed the official action as %u201ca long-awaited event that is a tribute to the dozens of local residents who worked over the years for this recognition for our neighborhood.%u201dThe original push for Boerum Hill designation occurred in 1969, weeks after the Landmarks Preservation Commission had been created, said Holt. The action last week came to the Board of Estimate without comment and was passed without opposition, in contrast to proposals for historic districts in Park Slope and Carroll Gardens which faced delay and possible rejection when they reached the final required level of approval last summer and fall. Both were subsequently approved.The designation area includes approximately 250 buildings on blocks facing Wyckoff St., Hoyt St., Bond St., Dean St., Nevins St., Bergen St. and Pacific St. The houses were constructed between the late 1940's and the early 1870's. In addition to the buildings in the District, 23houses on State Street, between Hoyt and Smith Sts. were also designated.In addition to the new requirement that all exterior alterations in buildings that are in the district conform to standards set by the Landmarks Commission, and be approved by the Commission, the designation is generally regarded as providing a boost to real estate values.This process may have already started, according to a report from Robin Newberger of Klahr Realty, Court St., who says that a 25 foot Federal House on the Landmark Block of State St. has just been sold for $104,000. The property was sold on behalf of Rachmiel Benaveram, who has moved to Paris.State Senator Caro! Bellamy hailed the Boerum Hill designation as \the great move forward being taken by the Borough of Brooklyn.%u201d Councilman Fred Richmond said that \Hill symbolizes the rejuvenation of the core of Brooklyn. By spending endless hours of renovation residents of this neighborhood have returned Boerum Hill to its onetime prominence as one of New York%u2019s finer communities.%u201dBLOOD DRIVE ON ATMETHODIST HOSPITALA blood donor drive is now underway at Methodist Hospital inPark Slope in cooperation with theGreater New York Blood Program.Directors 2nd chiefs of vsriousdepartments at the Hospital arehelping in the drive by donatingblood themselves. For an appointment to become a donor, call780-3230. Donors can give bloodweekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30p.m.. except Wednesdays, whenthe Blood Bsnk is open until 7 p mV iew north from proposed restaurant site.Barge Location May Get SupportFerry Eatery AgreesTo Possible MoveBY LYNNE GRIFOThe Office of DowntownBrooklyn Development (ODBD)has announced its support for thepreliminary lease drawn up by theDepartment of Ports and %u2018Terminals for Michael O%u2019Keefe, theManhattan restaurant owner whois seeking to build a waterfrontrestaurani at Fulton Ferry.%u201cIn a spirit of compromise%u201d,O'Keefe has agreed to relocate hisrestaurant on land in the FultonFerry area within five years of itscontraction, %u201cif the community sowishes.%u201d In the meantime, theDept, of Ports and Terminals willbulkhead the entire length of thewaterfront from the BrooklynBridge to the Fire House Pier inpreparation for the proposedoverall development of the area,says the office.ODBD, along with the BrooklynHeights Association, had earlieropposed the Manhattanrestaurateur's plan to build msestablishment on a barge off thesite of the proposed Fulton FerryPark. As explained by DouglasBrooks, ODBD had maintainedthat the restaurant would mar theview of the New York skyline asseen from the park area.O%u2019Keefe chose the barge locationbecause he is anxious to get then A n f AMHAVt# L ..%u00ab 1 i n n mm _ _ k votuut unv vu u t a o ouun a apossible. He does not feel it isfeasible to wait until thebulkheading and pier repair iscompleted by Ports and Terminals.Ports and Terminals now ownsthe land where the park would bebuilt and has been responsible forgauging community feeling aboutthe terms of the lease it intends togive O'Keefe. The agreem entwould cover the entire area of theproposed park, 20 percent of whichwould be used by the restaurateurfor the kitchen and rest rooms,facilities which are to be located onland and connected to the diningarea by a ramp.%u201c Under these conditions,%u201dBrooks stated, %u201cODBD would bewilling to support the lease toO%u2019Keefe. The community will be onfirm grounds if it does want to seethe restaurant moved to Handwithin the five-year period.\The Dept. Of Ports and Terminals has also sought the supportof the Brooklyn HeightsIMWHinillllMMmWMMIIUIMIIIMIIHmWBMWH v n130 Clinton StreetBrooklyn, New York 11201Tel 643 1032A w eekly co m m u n ity new spaperpublished 50 times a year by Advocaterress inc. serving trie neighborhoodsAssociation and the local Community Planning Board of Districtbefore drawing up a final lease,which will then go to the Board ofEstimate for approval.On Monday Edwards Rullman,president of the Brooklyn HeightsAssociation, explained that BHAhas not taken a position on thelatest version of the lease. Ameeting of the board was to be heldat PHOENIX presstime to discussthe issue.%u201cBHA does not feel that arestaurant barge off the park siteis appropriate and we are skepticalabout an agreement that wouldprovide for its relocation and thatof the other facilities to be contracted in the park,%u201d Rullman said.%u201cPorts and Terminals has toldBHA that in order to implement therelocations clause the approval ofthe local planning board and theBorough President would benecessarv. This takes the rWisinnout of the hands of the BrooklynHeights Community,%u201d he continued.iiinrwwTmn- umrtnmi)Mmiiinim