[Starlite Lounge Brooklyn]

Community Petition For Landmark Status
Legacy Awards Wall & The Starlite Lounge

We, the concerned residents of Crown Heights North have been made aware of the change of ownership of two landmark establishments in our community. The wall of the former Legacy Award aka Syl’s Sporting Goods, located on the corner of Park Place and Nostrand Avenue and The Starlite Lounge, located on the Corner of Bergen Street and Nostrand Avenue. The wall, which contains a mural that was commissioned by the late Syl Williamson has been, for years, a beacon of hope to the youth in our community, standing as a reminder of the proud legacy that our ancestors have passed down to us. The Starlite Lounge, a neighborhood establishment which has been in our community for over fifty years, stands proudly as the longest existing neighborhood meeting place in our community. This establishment is known for its community-friendly atmosphere and as a place to socially network. As residents of this community, we are petitioning Community Board 8 and our elected officials to designate both as landmarks in order to avoid certain destruction of history in our community, which would mean that The Starlite Lounge would be forced to shut its doors indefinitely.

If you would like to lend your support our cause to preserve our community beacon, and cannot make it out to sign the actual petition, we would welcome any comments you would like to add as to the preservation of our history, i.e., why you think this establishment should be preserved as a landmark, etc.
Please send your input to this e-mail address and do your part to save history!!!

Thank you for your support.
_________________
Starlite Lounge
The Oldest Black-Owned Non-Discriminating Bar/Club in the heart of Brooklyn New York

[tsarina]

oops edited and everything is in the post below.

[tsarina]

I would also like to add that the Starlite is the oldest black owned gay bar in the U.S., although the entire community is welcome there. The diversity is great. When my friends come to visit I always point it out. We have great architecture, good people but not a lot of places that are interesting and draw people from outside the neighborhood. Recently there have been tours going to the Starlight and it is getting more much deserved attention. Please do not close it down. It is one of the few community gathering spots here in Crown Heights and particularly on Nostrand Avenue.

To lose the Starlite would be a great shame. When you look at Nostrand Avenue with all the 99 cent stores, nail salons, liquor stores and hair places, you see a major retail strip that is in dire need of change, to get back to the great shopping street it once was. This is one of the very few establishments that is distinctive and and is an asset to the community.

Please dont let them close it down and put another generic store that we don't need in there.

[rosweed]

I agree. These are both landmarks that deserve to be preserved. What can we do to make sure that this happens?

[citymouse]

Did Starlite end up getting preserved or did they close it down/plan to close it down?

[catwalkertexasranger]

Gage and Tollner is a land marked site and is now operating as an Arby's on Fulton St. If Starlight's building is land marked the the site must be preserved/restored to a certain standard. Their continued operation inside the space is not part of the land mark process. Lots of other posts talked of bad or even unsafe conditions inside that may need extensive renovations. If regular building and repair permits are granted before land marking the previous status is what the bldg dept looks at. If Starlight is struggling under current conditions the restrictive and super expensive rehab requirements will really be hard on them. Land mark equals twice as expensive at the very least.