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}} The Old Brooklyn Fire Headquarters is a historic building located at 365-67 Jay Street near Willoughby Street in Downtown Brooklyn, New York City. Designed by Frank Freeman in the Richardsonian Romanesque Revival style and built in 1892, it was used as a fire station until the 1970s, after which it was converted into residential apartments. The building, described as "one of New York's best and most striking architectural compositions", was made a New York City landmark in 1966, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. ==History== Around 1890, the Brooklyn Fire Department began planning for the construction of a new fire headquarters with a tall lookout tower. A plot of land was eventually purchased for the purpose on Jay Street, adjacent to the quarters of Engine Company 17, for $15,000. At this point, a dispute arose as to the choice of architect. Fire Commissioner John Ennis favored a protégé of local Democratic Party leader Hugh "Boss" McLaughlin, but the city works commissioner, John P. Adams, preferred another firm. Eventually, a compromise candidate was selected—Frank Freeman, a leading exponent of the Richardsonian Romanesque style, who had recently completed the Thomas Jefferson Association Building for the Kings County Democrats.〔Gray, Christopher: ("Civic Ambition, and Politics, on Jay Street" ), ''The New York Times'', 2006-04-16.〕 The new building was completed in 1892, although the fire department did not occupy the building until March 1894. Though originally intended as the department's headquarters, it served in this role for only six years, when the City of Brooklyn was incorporated as a borough into the City of New York, after which the building became "simply, the most splendid neighborhood firehouse in Greater New York."〔Morrone and Iska, pp. 22-23.〕 The building was retained as a firehouse by the New York City Fire Department until the 1970s, serving as the home of various units including Ladder 110 and 118, Engine 207, and from 1947 to 1971, Battalion 31. In the 1930s, it also served as the HQ of Searchlight 2, a unit which utilized a Packard sedan modified to carry searchlights, in an era before fire engines were fitted with their own searchlights.〔Schneiderman, pp. 31-32.〕 In 1966, the building was designated as a New York City landmark,〔("Old Brooklyn Fire Headquarters" ), Landmarks Preservation Commission report, Neighborhood Preservation Center website.〕 and in 1972, it was listed as an historic building on the National Register of Historic Places.〔("Old Brooklyn Fire Headquarters" ), nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com.〕 After the Fire Department vacated the premises, it was leased for a time by Polytechnic University. In 1987, the Board of Estimates proposed a conversion of the then-vacant building into 18 apartments for low-income and elderly people, a plan that was met with considerable resistance in some quarters.〔("Plan to Alter Firehouse Is Debated in Brooklyn" ), ''The New York Times'' (September 6, 1987)〕 However, the conversion subsequently went ahead, partly on the grounds that continued use would prevent the building from falling into decay. Regardless, the building as of 2009 was said to have developed a "musty, neglected air"〔 and to be in need of maintenance, with parts of its roofing having disintegrated.〔("Walkabout: Favorite Brooklyn Buildings - Reader's Choices" )''The Brownstoner'' (December 10, 2009)〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Old Brooklyn Fire Headquarters」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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