Each year the Park Slope Civic Council celebrates community construction projects and interventions that honor the original architecture of Park Slope with the Ortner Preservation Awards. The Ortner Awards, sponsored by Tarzian Hardware, are named after Evelyn and Everett Ortner, long-time Park Slope residents and community advocates who, beginning in the 1960s, played a pivotal role in transforming our then declining neighborhood into the vibrant community it is today.
This year’s award for the Rehabilitation of a Historic Structure, pictured above at 192 Prospect Park West, was presented to Hidrock Properties, Kaptive Development, M&R Construction Group, and Building Studio Architects.
Decorative period embellishments of the original 192 Prospect Park West structure, including cornices and large plate glass windows set atop raised wood paneling, have been handsomely revived to emulate the original building’s early style and detail. Ample Hills, a Brooklyn-born ice creamery, is the first tenant at the newly rehabilitated PPW site, and recently opened its doors where a one-time Ice Cream Parlor served sweet treats nearly a century ago.
The award for Community Betterment/Neighborhood Intervention was given to 2nd Street neighbor Amy Globus, who sought to beautify her neighborhood during a year of great change and upheaval in our community. With the permission of her 2nd Street neighbors and at her own expense, she orchestrated the expansion of seven tree beds, arranged with the City for the planting of missing trees, and commissioned the installation of attractive wrought iron railings around the beds as pictured below. “It’s been an atypical year for all of us, so I’m really hoping it will bring some joy to our neighborhood,” Amy said. “I have big dreams to make our neighborhood as great as it can possibly be!”