One can almost hear the strains of the William Tell Overture (about 1:56 in on this clip) as the announcement is made that the White Brothers Livery Stable has a new owner.
Yes, the announcement is being made at 5:00 in front of the Livery, and we've heard from four separate reliable sources that there is a new owner. No spoilers here, we're keeping his identity under wraps for the time being because we wouldn't want to discourage a single individual from heading over to Jersey Street and joining in the applause when the name is disclosed. Trust us when we say that the building is in good hands. And the new owner is Sam Savarino - our gracious landlord.
One down, several to go. This announcement is monumental from the standpoint that, though this is but one building, it signals a change of direction in the thinking of locals as to the preservation of precious architecture in its relationship to the integrity of a neighborhood. The community can change the course of history, and it's a sure bet that standards will change on the governmental front as a result of this near fiasco.
Members of savethelivery.com, with a heavy dose of Harvey Garrett, are ready to press on in order to see that in the future all inspections violations and reports become an easily accessible, on-line matter of public record.
There are matters to be resolved such as who will be responsible for the dollars spent in stabilizing the structure and what plans may be in store for the livery's future. No matter what, the Livery will become a monument to the dedication of right-minded individuals with a focus on preservation over demolition--and the gift of solidarity.
Stay tuned for updates...