The City of Harlem is not moving forward with an ordinance in regards to the painting of virgin bricks.
During the Harlem Historic Preservation Commission meeting on Thursday, April 13, David Jenkins, the director of community development, told commissioners the Harlem City Council has indicated they don’t want the ordinance.
“The painting of the bricks, that ordinance did not get a first reading by city council, so there’s no change in what’s permitted at this time,” Jenkins said.
City attorney Adam Nelson told commissioners that the council members kept the definition of virgin brick in place is an indication that there is a reason to define it.
“But as of right now they’re not convinced there’s enough…,” Nelson said. “Once again, I don’t speak for them. I think that one thing was brought up is there’s not a lot of virgin brick left is what their position was.”
Chairman Herbert Flick disagreed about the amount of virgin brick left, stating there are approximately 17 buildings that aren’t painted.
The discussion was started after a building in downtown was painted overnight, Flick previously said in the March meeting. He later added that his main concern would be a person painting a building something extreme, such as a white building with pink polka dots.
The city council did have an interest in the brick colors continuum, so Jenkins working on an ordinance for that topic, and issues for it would go before the planning commission. He said historically Harlem has a darker red color downtown and then colors can get lighter as buildings get further away from the downtown.
