Janus Property, preservationists square off over Harlem brewery site

Yet another former brewery site in the city is up for redevelopment – this time in Harlem – and preservationists are perturbed.

Janus Property Co., the developers that own the former Yuengling Brewery Complex at 1361 Amsterdam Avenue, squared off against residents and preservations Thursday at a public hearing hosted by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Janus principal Scott Metzner was joined by former and current City Council members, the local community board, engineers and historians to argue that the structure does not merit landmark designation, according to DNAinfo.

Instead, they believe the former brewery could better serve Harlem as the site of a new development that would attractive businesses to the neighborhood. Janus touted its record of reconstructing abandoned warehouses in the area, which they call the “Manhattanville Factory District.”

But preservationists criticized politicians and community board members for accepting money from Janus and “selling the community out.”

Former City Council member Robert Jackson and current Council member Mark Levine accepted $2,000 and $1,000, respectively, from the developer in 2013, according to campaign finance reports.

Groups that support the landmarking of the brewery complex include Save Harlem Now, the New York Landmarks Conservancy and the Victorian Society of New York.

Landmarks will decide the fate of the brewery and six other Uptown sites next year. [DNAinfo] – Rey Mashayekhi