Pillar Award Spotlight: Nancy & Otis Pearsall
Nancy and Otis Pearsall pictured seated on a red velvet sofa with an ornately carved wood frame inside their historic Brooklyn Heights home.
Affectionately referred to as the Mother and Father of Brooklyn Heights, Nancy and Otis Pearsall have made the preservation of their neighborhood a lifelong mission. The couple first settled in Brooklyn Heights in 1956, just as they were starting their life together. They appreciated the human-scale of the neighborhood, the historic charm, and the fact that it was a “happy place for people.” However, they quickly realized that the neighborhood was threatened — commercial developers were interested in demolishing the old to build new, and Robert Moses’ ‘slum’ clearance ambitions throughout the neighborhood.
185–195 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, a streetscape view of buildings that have storefronts on the ground floor and residential units on the upper floors. Atlantic Avenue is the southern border of the Brooklyn Heights Historic District. photo source.
Nancy and Otis were at the forefront of a group of concerned citizens who pushed back to protect their neighborhood. They were aware of the Bard Act, which was passed in 1956 and empowered cities within New York State to pass laws enabling the preservation of landmarks. They were also aware of the 1955 designation of the Beacon Hill Architectural District in Boston — couldn’t Brooklyn Heights be protected in a similar way? Nancy and Otis rallied their neighbors, doing extensive research and leading countless community meetings. They created a “community of preservationists.” Meetings drew hundreds of people and they all left committed to preserving their neighborhood. They began organizing in earnest in the fall of 1958, working tirelessly for seven years before Brooklyn Heights was designated a historic district — New York City’s first. The New York City Landmarks Law was enacted in 1965 to preserve historic landmarks and neighborhoods, with the designation of Brooklyn Heights following shortly after.
Nancy and Otis continued their advocacy over the years, including being involved in the creation of the Fulton Ferry Historic District (designated in 1977) and the Borough Hall Skyscraper Historic District (designated in 2011). The couple have also maintained meticulous records. Their archives detail every step of every preservation effort they engaged with for decades. This in itself is a monumental undertaking and a true gift for future historians, scholars, and preservationists.
A row of townhouses on a tree-lined street in the Brooklyn Heights Historic District.
When speaking with Nancy and Otis, it is clear how much they love their neighborhood and how much pride they have in being involved in its preservation right from the beginning. During our conversation, Otis mentioned that people think preservation in New York City began with the demolition of Penn State in 1963, but the efforts in Brooklyn Heights came first. Nancy and Otis hope that their grassroots organizing continues to serve as a model for future generations of preservationists.
The League is honored to recognize Nancy and Otis Pearsall as Pillars of New York. We hope you will join us as we celebrate them during the 2022 Pillar of New York Awards on Tuesday, April 5. We’ll be celebrating in person at the Rainbow Room, but the presentation will be livestreamed for anyone who cannot join us in New York City.