The Godfather Of Grandfathering

Anyone living in one of the 'Brownstones of Brooklyn,' or any other type of historic home throughout the city, who doesn’t know the name Otis Pearsall, simply hasn't done their homework.

"Otis is a pivotal figure in historic preservation, not only in Brooklyn, but in New York City," said Simeon Bankoff, director of the Historic District Council, a city wide advocacy group that fights on behalf of historic neighborhoods.

But Pearsall wasn't just among the first generation of New Yorkers to look at historic preservation as a means to preserve and rejuvenate a neighborhood.

"He figured out the legislative key to enable community groups to become historic districts," Bankoff said.

That key being the Bard Law—a special provision of New York State law dating back to the turn of the twentieth century that allowed localities across the state authority to enact protections over local landmarks—a precursor to the New York City Landmarks Law that was enacted in 1965.

"Up until this point the focus was on preserving specific sites. But the efforts of Otis, his wife Nancy and their cohorts really helped changed the focus to preserving whole sections of the city," Bankoff said. 

Today, Pearsall is referred to by some as the 'Grandfather of Historic Preservation,' and with good reason.

"It's because of people like Otis [Pearsall] that a neighborhood like Brooklyn Heights for instance still has some of the most diverse and distinctive homes in New York City," said Eric Allison, coordinator of Pratt Institute's Historic Preservation Masters program.

Indeed, with an eclectic mix of every style row house one can imagine, from pre-Civil War to Romanesque-revival architecture, Brooklyn architecture certainly seems to have it all.

"The milieu makes for an incredible backdrop for historic preservation education," Allison said.

Though unaware of the name Otis Pearsall, one historic Fort Greene resident still had a great amount of respect, admiration and gratitude to the early founders of the preservation movement.

"I would definitely agree that we all owe them a big 'thank you.' I really love just walking the neighborhood, soaking it all in," said Kristina Dubrowski, as she strolled out of the Thursday afternoon, on her way home from enjoying an afternoon out.

And were you to ask Allison, he'd tell you that this was at the very essence of historic preservation.

"To preserve the character of a neighborhood," he said, adding, "And there's really no question that Otis Pearsall played a big part in that."