Paul Kerzner, Clip 7: Ridgewood and Landmarking

Collection: Queens Memory Project Collection at Queens College Libraries' Department of Special Collections and Archives: Paul Kerzner

Date: Time Period: 2013.0; 2013-05-24; Interview recorded: May 24 2013 Material: Digital audio recording made using Zoom H2 digital audio recorder digital recorder and Adobe Soundbooth. Dimension: Total running time: 0:04:11

Creator: Paul Kerzner interviewed by Grace Sullivan and Chia-Yin Leslie Tu Identifier: aql:26258 kerzner-paul-clip7

Description: Ridgewood resident, Paul Kerzner, observes that brownstone neighborhoods that had historic preservation were the ones that held up the best. Paul did a study of landmarked districts in New York City and all looked in good shape. This prompted Paul to put Ridgewood on a landmark list. Ridgewood has 2,982 buildings in the district and could possibly be one of the top five neighborhoods in size in the nation. It is the largest in New York State. It is the architectural integrity that defines a neighborhood. Donald Presser, a graduate of Columbia School of Architecture, did a complete survey of every building in Ridgewood. Gustav Matthews built the Matthews Flats, which were six family homes. They were the first multiple dwelling designed with interior bathroom, interior lighting, and electric for every apartment. They were also fireproof.

Title : Paul Kerzner, Clip 7: Ridgewood and Landmarking

Collection : aql:16085; aql:20455

Creator : Paul Kerzner interviewed by Grace Sullivan and Chia-Yin Leslie Tu

Date : Time Period: 2013.0; 2013-05-24; Interview recorded: May 24 2013

Summary/Description : Ridgewood resident, Paul Kerzner, observes that brownstone neighborhoods that had historic preservation were the ones that held up the best. Paul did a study of landmarked districts in New York City and all looked in good shape. This prompted Paul to put Ridgewood on a landmark list. Ridgewood has 2,982 buildings in the district and could possibly be one of the top five neighborhoods in size in the nation. It is the largest in New York State. It is the architectural integrity that defines a neighborhood. Donald Presser, a graduate of Columbia School of Architecture, did a complete survey of every building in Ridgewood. Gustav Matthews built the Matthews Flats, which were six family homes. They were the first multiple dwelling designed with interior bathroom, interior lighting, and electric for every apartment. They were also fireproof.

Subject : Historic preservation; Legislation

Relation : Queens Memory Project Collection at Queens College Libraries' Department of Special Collections and Archives: Paul Kerzner

Rights : Contact digitalarchives@queenslibrary.org for research and reproduction requests.

Coverage : Locations discussed: Ridgewood, Queens, NY Ridgewood (New York, N.Y.) Queens (New York, N.Y.)

Type : Oral history

Format : Digital audio recording made using Zoom H2 digital audio recorder digital recorder and Adobe Soundbooth.; Total running time: 0:04:11

Identifier : aql:26258 kerzner-paul-clip7