Former Jamaica Savings Bank Building, Jamaica, NY
Photo Courtesy of Historic Districts Council Newsstand
The ornate limestone building at the corner of 161st Street and Jamaica Avenue in Jamaica has stood as a prime example of French Baroque architecture for more than a century.
For the last 33 years, it's also stood for something else:
In what may be one of the oldest and oddest preservation disputes in city history, the city Landmarks Preservation Commission has designated the vacant, four-story structure - the original headquarters of the Jamaica Savings Bank - twice since 1974, only to have its decision overturned each time.
It is the only landmark designation in city history that has been rescinded twice, and is among only 21 - out of 24,000 - that have been overturned since the landmarks panel was created in 1965.
But this week, 15 years after the last try and with an agreement from the new owners to support the designation, the commission is scheduled to confer landmark status on the building for a third time.
"It's been vacant and closed for as long as I can remember," said Councilman Leroy Comrie Jr. (D-Jamaica), who recalled walking past the building on his way to Jamaica High School every day. "It's been an eyesore since the '70s."
The previous owner had opposed landmarking as a barrier to development but left the building unoccupied and in disrepair for decades.
The Board of Estimate overturned the first designation in 1975, and the City Council rescinded the second one, in 1992.
A lot has changed since then. The new owner, Conway Stores Inc., the
Community Board 12, which opposed the original designation in 1974, now supports the status. And the backing of Comrie, who is also the council's deputy majority leader, should ease the proposal's way to final approval.
"It's probably a matter of good luck and good fortune that it's even still around today and in remarkably good shape, considering that we're talking about 30 years," said Mitchell Grubler, chairman of the
The building's facade, landmarks officials say, features elaborate ornamental touches, including a carved stone beehive, cornucopias and garlands of fruit - all considered symbols of prosperity, according to landmarks officials.
"It hasn't been touched for decades," said Ricky Cohen, co-owner of Conway Stores. "It's been completely ignored and abandoned. But it's very, very beautiful and when it's cleaned up, it's going to look gorgeous."
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