Those Park Slope Gas Lamps Aren't As Antique As You’d Think

 Photo via Flickr user triebensee

It turns out that lip collagen and silicone chests aren’t the only new things adorning old Park Slope icons. According to DNAinfo.com, most of the gas lamps in Park Slope don’t date back to the late 1800s when most of the brownstones were built.  In fact, many are younger than most of the patrons at Jackie’s 5^th Amendment -- Post-Al Capone.

Yep… it seems that the gas lamps were put in place by the Brooklyn Union Gas Company in the 1960s to help lure new buyers as the neighborhood first began gentrifying. And for residents who want to install new gas lamps outside of their historic district brownstones in an attempt to "keep up with the neighborhood's historic feel," there's been some resistance from folks who don't think they should be allowed since they're not 19th Century pieces.

"They're not historic and they're certainly not historically accurate," Park Slope Civic Council's Landmarks Committee member John Casson told DNA. Casson, who recently opposed a resident's request to install a new lamp, goes on: "A, They're not authentic, B, they don't give much light, and C, they waste energy. They just look silly."

What do you think, FIPS readers?  I think the lamps look cool as shit on snowy nights, but otherwise I’m no longer noticing them as much as I settle in.  And how much does it cost to run gas all day and night?