In my superior opinion, wooden stoops excell. Masonry, contrary to popular opinion, does not last forever. Is is highly susceptable to freeze thaw cycles and when it starts to detoriorate is very difficult to repair. I just had a masonry stoop replaced after many years of reparing it myself, it was costly. If I had a wooden stoop, I would have happily repaired or replaced it myself but the hassle of demolishing and rebuilding a masonry stoop is a nightmare. Wood is extremely durable if it is not in contact with dirt or standing water. And it's not cold and clammy to sit on.

those buildings went so long with temporary stairs...all just to be replaced with a stoop just one notch above temporary.
i think they look ridiculous. and one has some sort of faux finish on it, looks like they painted it gray, but didn't like it and wiped it off....

just to throw my 2 cents in.

Lets see how these wooden stoops last in heavy snow and extreme weather.

sorry, my mistake, they are the permenant steps being built.

as ECH mentioned the Gregory Row Houses on Erie orginally had a wood porch and steps. Other older row houses may have had the same.

call the Planning/Historic Preservation Officer for an explanation.

The wooden stoops that seem to be sprouting
everywhere are in most cases not appropriate
to the buildings they are getting pasted onto.
Very few houses here had wooden stoops or
galleries, the most notable exceptions in Harsimus Cove
being the row on the south side of 5th east
and west of Erie, as well as the common veranda
that ran all the way across Gregory Row, now
replaced with brick faux stoops, on Erie btwn
1st and 2nd. The three story cottages on the n.
side of 3rd just east of Erie also had wooden
front porches.
How so many people are getting away with
sticking these Cape Cod porches onto their houses, I
can't imagine. The Historic Comm. pooh-bah
used to be such a stickler for what he
considered appropriate (usually incorrect, by
the way), -- but even he cannot construe
Nantucket style with Jersey City downtown
style. What's going on here?
Looks more and more like Martha Stewart
runs the nabe.

I heard that the Historic Commission guy (Not sure if it was Dan Rearden or his replacement) made the builder tear down the stone steps they were building and replace with wooden to comply with the historic by-laws. Since the stairs were completely removed, this is what was required.

IMO, this is taking the historical preservation to a ridiculous level.

my friend and I were JUST commenting on the same thing. The same two stoops on our way to the Great Newport Mall!LOL
I actually dont like the looks of them. But she said that they are actually pretty sturdy with the materials they are using now for that. I dunno, i still dont like it.

Wood and or stone can be Historical but wood can be a lot cheaper,although it will have a much shorter life span.If you aren't planning on staying go wood.

do they look permanent or just temporary?

Quote:

Is the historic district commission now requiring stoops that need replacement to be replaced with wood? Two going up on Erie between 6&7 - can that just be a coincidence? Adds a pleasant bit of whimsy to the streetscape.

BTW, how come no one posts any juicy Dan Wrearden (?) stories anymore?