This Old House Coming to New York, But Not to Roosevelt Island's Blackewell House

Image of Roger, Rich, Kevin and Tom from this old house

Even though I live in a 200 plus unit apartment building and have no desire to live in an old house or even a new single family home, I have always enjoyed watching the This Old House Television Program. There is something enjoyable and satisfying about watching the camaraderie of professionals like Norm Abram, Tom Silva, Rich Trethewey and Roger Cook working on a building project from beginning to end together with an everyman helper like current host Kevin O'Connor or the former host Steve Thomas. (I started watching the show after the Bob Vila era). I think it's the teamwork they exhibit on each project and that they appear to enjoy working with each other, like a great live rock concert band (Springsteen & E Street Band, U2 or Great Big Sea), that appeals to me.

Anyway, This Old House recently announced that they are looking for a project to do in New York City.

For the first-time ever, the Emmy Award-winning television series This Old House is looking for a historic home to renovate in New York City. The TV crew is hoping to find a dynamic family with a great old house in need of help, with plenty of things to save and update. However, the project's scope must be "just right"— not a whole house, but more than just a kitchen. The renovation must be completed in about 4 to 5 months, with construction beginning as early as August and finished by December. The ideal project should already be underway with design plans and have the ability to be “fast-tracked.”

The selected project will be featured on multiple This Old House episodes beginning on PBS in early 2009. The deadline for submissions is Friday, July 4, 2008.

Although This Old House projects usually involve residential home renovations, I thought it might be worthwhile to inquire if there was any interest in undertaking a project to complete the renovations of Blackwell House, one of the oldest, if not the oldest farmhouse in New York City. As described by RIOC:

Blackwell House is one of the few farmhouses dating from the years immediately following the Revolutionary War. It was built in 1794 and is the fifth oldest wooden house surviving in New York City. The pale-blue, two-story clapboard structure, was once home to Roosevelt Island’s earliest resident, Robert Blackwell.

Image of Blackwell House from RIOC

Unfortunately, RIOC President Steve Shane does not think that it is feasible to have a This Old House program work on the Blackwell House renovation because:

Already been there. We cannot do projects that are not in compliance with ADA, do not meet Historical Standards, etc.
Good idea, though.

More on the history of Roosevelt Island's Blackwell House from the Roosevelt Island Historical Society. Also, Roosevelt Island 360 on some more current activities at Blackwell House.

Image from Roosevelt Island 360

I guess This Old House will wind up in Victorian Flatbush or Brownstone Brooklyn for their New York Adventure.