Residents of Old Hyde Park took their message to the street on Sunday. They are hoping to gather enough signatures on a petition to stop the city from approving the demolition of several buildings on Armour Boulevard.
Residents of a group called “Save our Armour” yesterday took a position in front of four buildings at 100-118 Armour Boulevard that they hope to save from demolition.
MAC Properties, which has restored more than 20 historic buildings along Armour, said recently that it cannot figure out a way to redevelop the properties. After offering to give the buildings to anyone who can find a viable way to renovate them, MAC said in July that it instead wanted to demolish the buildings and build new apartments in their place.
Local residents rallied to save the buildings, forming a group called “Save our Armour” and taking to an email and Facebook campaign. They also have a petition drive asking people to register support for saving the buildings.
The city’s landmark commission is expected to hear a request from MAC Properties to demolish the properties on Sept. 27.
“MAC said six years ago that they would restore these properties,” Old Hyde Park president Marty Phillips said yesterday. “We feel like they have been disingenuous in their offer” to give the properties away to a developer.
Phillips said he has letters from two developers who say they would like to renovate the buildings. He still wants MAC to honor its original offer so that the buildings can be saved.
The Save our Armour group plans to continue gathering signatures on its petition and try to raise awareness of the demolition request until the meeting.
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