A tony Queens enclave once home to a host of black stars - including Jackie Robinson and James Brown - became a historic district Tuesday on the first day of Black History Month.
The designation by the Landmarks Preservation Commission protects 422 buildings in the Addisleigh Park neighborhood from changes or demolition.
"They're great American stories," said Landmarks Commissioner Christopher Moore. "This is top shelf."
Robinson lived in Addisleigh Park from his 1949 MVP season with the Brooklyn Dodgers until 1955. Brown, the "Godfather of Soul," resided there from 1963 to 1968.
The neighborhood also includes the former homes of Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella, boxer Joe Louis and musicians Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Milt Hinton and Lena Horne.
"Their contributions were so significant that we thought it was fitting to honor them with these votes at the start of Black History Month," said Landmarks Commission Chairman Robert Tierney.
Landmarks Vice Chairman Pablo Vengoechea called the area "an East Coast version of a Hollywood tour."
Residents said tour buses already venture onto the leafy streets. But Yvonne Jackson, who grew up nearby, recalled respecting the celebrities' privacy as a kid.
"Even though they were extremely famous, they were decent, kind, human neighbors," said Jackson, who went to barbecues at Basie's house. "We were used to them. They were just our neighbors."
The honor comes nearly three years after the Daily News' History in Peril series profiled the homes of Robinson, Brown, Campanella and the nearby house where civil rights leader W.E.B. Du Bois was married in 1951.
The city also gave landmark status yesterday to three 19th-century homes and a church in the Sandy Ground section of Staten Island, sometimes known as "Little Africa."
"The four rare, vernacular buildings at Sandy Ground ... are tangible links to the rich history of one of the earliest continuing African-American neighborhoods in New York City," Tierney said.
The designation by the Landmarks Preservation Commission protects 422 buildings in the Addisleigh Park neighborhood from changes or demolition.
"They're great American stories," said Landmarks Commissioner Christopher Moore. "This is top shelf."
Robinson lived in Addisleigh Park from his 1949 MVP season with the Brooklyn Dodgers until 1955. Brown, the "Godfather of Soul," resided there from 1963 to 1968.
The neighborhood also includes the former homes of Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella, boxer Joe Louis and musicians Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Milt Hinton and Lena Horne.
"Their contributions were so significant that we thought it was fitting to honor them with these votes at the start of Black History Month," said Landmarks Commission Chairman Robert Tierney.
Landmarks Vice Chairman Pablo Vengoechea called the area "an East Coast version of a Hollywood tour."
Residents said tour buses already venture onto the leafy streets. But Yvonne Jackson, who grew up nearby, recalled respecting the celebrities' privacy as a kid.
"Even though they were extremely famous, they were decent, kind, human neighbors," said Jackson, who went to barbecues at Basie's house. "We were used to them. They were just our neighbors."
The honor comes nearly three years after the Daily News' History in Peril series profiled the homes of Robinson, Brown, Campanella and the nearby house where civil rights leader W.E.B. Du Bois was married in 1951.
The city also gave landmark status yesterday to three 19th-century homes and a church in the Sandy Ground section of Staten Island, sometimes known as "Little Africa."
"The four rare, vernacular buildings at Sandy Ground ... are tangible links to the rich history of one of the earliest continuing African-American neighborhoods in New York City," Tierney said.
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