Extensive renovations to a $1.5 million home owned by Gustavo Gordillo, co-chair of the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (NYC-DSA), have drawn criticism from local officials and community members. Concerns were raised that the proposed upgrades were out of character with the historic Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood.
During a hearing on April 25, 2023, before the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), Brooklyn Community Board 3's landmarks committee chair, Evelyn Collier, stated that the planned alterations were "not in alignment" with the surrounding row houses. Collier specifically pointed to proposed window and door sizes as being too large and unrelatable to adjacent buildings. Another commissioner, Everado Johnson, described the planned facade as "thin" and suggested the renovation would resemble a "Hampton’s beach house in the 1960s and 1970s."
The community board, which has championed the preservation of Bed-Stuy’s historic district, formally resolved not to support the proposed building extension. Despite these objections, the LPC later approved a permit for the property's overhaul in August 2023. The approval came with conditions, including requirements for smaller windows and changes to the cornice. Architects were also directed to address irrigation and drainage for proposed planters and re-examine roof columns and fascia boards.
Stop Work Order Issued
Recently, the city Buildings Department issued a stop work order on Gordillo's alterations, citing a failure to obtain proper permits for interior and facade work. The LPC emphasized that all drawings, including amendments, must be approved by the commission before being filed with the Department of Buildings.
Gordillo, a Yale graduate who leads the NYC-DSA, purchased the Brooklyn home, which his parents had acquired. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions in neighborhoods undergoing gentrification, with community groups expressing concerns about the impact of new developments on existing character and affordability.