UPDATE - Results of 4/4/23 TOH Landmark Preservations Commission Hearing
Hello All. Just getting back to everyone with an update about the 4/4/23 hearing with the Town of Hempstead Landmarks Preservation Commission about the Gouin-Lawrence-Graber House in Bellmore Village.
UPDATE:
LANDMARK DESIGNATION of the Historic Gouin-Lawrence-Graber House has been DENIED by the Town of Hempstead Landmarks Preservation Commission. Despite the extensive history that has been researched and presented pertaining to the requirements of historic, cultural and architectural significance, they decided that the “uniqueness” of the house is in question. They commented “There are other houses in Garden City that we see on the way to the Town of Hempstead that are similar.” We argued that it is a unique custom design and the only style like this in Bellmore; the Commission agreed houses should be assessed based on individual significance, yet their decision still stands.
If we can obtain additional historic architectural detail about this custom designed home, we will submit an appeal (which needs to be done within the next eight days). You may WRITE LETTERS to TOH within the next few days to express your concerns about this decision. And request that the Town of Hempstead Board hear additional evidence, if attained, and approve landmark designation to maintain our community’s character so we can continue to “Stroll Down Memory Lane”.
HIGHLIGHTS about its rich historic, cultural and architectural significance is available in the Power Point presentation posted on Facebook. Details and supporting documents were provided in the form of a 30+ page binder to the Landmarks Preservation Commission to review. I hope the community appreciates and enjoys learning about the Historic Gouin-Lawrence-Graber House and its local doctors who lived and practiced here, part of the “golden age of medicine” and America’s medical history as well as Jewish historic culture and related events in history. This house reveals how local, state and national history intersect.
Any further updates will be posted as soon as they are available.