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BROOKLYN WEEKLY, APRUL 21, 2019
Group fi ghts to save Flatbush church
Dr. Natalie Marks is the first
board-certified female vascular
medicine specialist in Brooklyn,
bringing a unique perspective to
this important field of medicine.
She works as an integral part
of the vascular surgery team of
The Vascular Institute of New
York, which offers a full spectrum
of surgical and endovascular
methods for treatment of
vascular disorders, working
under the directorship of worldrenowned
vascular surgeon Dr.
Enrico Ascher.
Dr. Marks is proud to be part
of the team.
“At the Vascular Institute of
New York, we strive to offer each
patient the most effective and
the least invasive diagnostic and
treatment options for the management
of their vascular conditions,”
she says.
Combining expertise, empathy,
and compassion, Dr. Marks
is able to provide her patients
with exceptional care, treating
issues such as varicose veins, spider
veins, non-healing wounds,
peripheral arterial disease, and
more with minimum invasive
procedures.
“I am there for each patient,
every step of the way,” she says.
She gladly discusses individual
cases with referring physicians,
and is available to see patients
in consultation, actively
participating in perioperative
care for those undergoing various
vascular procedures. Together,
the doctors will evaluate
all patients’ comorbidities, assess
all risks, and will make recommendations
for the most comprehensive
vascular care.
Like Dr. Ascher — who has
published more than 250 scientific
articles in medical journals,
and more than 65 textbook chapters
— Dr. Marks, too, is a leader
in the field. She has authored
more than 100 scientific articles
in peer-reviewed journals and 16
textbook chapters. She has lectured
extensively about various
vascular topics, sharing expertise
with peers around the globe.
“She brings a new dimension
in the care of patients with vascular
diseases,” says Dr. Ascher.
“She highlights the importance
of medical management to avoid
surgery whenever possible.”
Dr. Marks is skilled in all the
latest techniques in dealing with
stroke prevention, aneurysms,
peripheral arterial disease, and
in caring for patients with conditions
that cause leg pain and
swelling. Often leg swelling — a
common condition — is an indication
that veins are not working
properly.
The Vascular Institute of New
York is a leader in the care of
limb salvage, developing pioneering
techniques, and saving limbs
that others thought couldn’t be
saved.
The Vascular Institute of New
York is a state-of-the-art facility,
with an attractive office and
highly trained staff of professionals.
Some of the highlights
include on-site fully accredited
and federally certified operating
room, recovery room, staff
anesthesiologist, intravascular
ultrasound, and a state-of-the-art
wound care center.
“Our team strives to offer
each patient the most effective
and the least invasive diagnostic
and treatment options for
the management of their vascular
conditions,” says Dr. Marks.
“We are committed to providing
patients with the most upto
date treatments for vascular
disease.”
Make an appointment today.
Vascular Institute of New York
960 50th St. between Ninth and
10th avenues in Borough Park,
(718) 438–3800 or 9920 Fourth
Ave., suite 303, between Third and
Fourth avenues in Bay Ridge.
Open Mondays – Fridays, 8 am–6
pm; Saturdays and Sundays, 8
am–1 pm. Most major insurance
plans are accepted.
BUS INES S , B ROOKLYN S T Y LE
Vascular Institute of New York making strides in Brooklyn
BY AIDAN GRAHAM
They’re praying to save this
church.
A local group is pushing the
city to landmark a treasured
Flatbush church that neighbors
worry will soon be sold and sacrifi
ced for profi t.
Conservation group Respect
Brooklyn began the process in
December with an offi cial request
to the city’s Landmark
Preservation Commission, urging
them to grant landmark status
to the Presbyterian Church
at 494 E. 23rd St.
“It would be an incredible
shame to lose this architecturally
and historically signifi cant
building and church, especially
since other works by the same
notable architects have been preserved
in other parts of NYC,”
read the petition. “This part
of Brooklyn remains woefully
without individual landmarks
and therefore valuable historic
resources in this area such as
this over century old church are
vulnerable to insensitive alteration
and even demolition.”
An LPC representative recently
responded to that request,
saying that while the issue
warranted further analysis
to determine the church’s cultural
significance, it remained a
low priority.
“The agency has reviewed the
church’s architectural and historical
qualities, and has determined
that more study is needed
to determine its signifi cance,”
said Kate Lemos McHale. “Such
a study is not currently among
the agency’s citywide priorities.
Please understand that in a city
the size of New York, with its
many religious structures, the
Commission must be very selective
in choosing examples of this
building type for consideration.”
The church, which was fi rst
constructed in 1898, is currently
owned by the Presbytery of New
York, but is listed for sale as a
development site by Colliers International
real estate agency,
leaving neighbors to fear its impending
destruction by a potential
buyer.
A Respect Brooklyn member
blasted the Commission’s reluctance
to move with urgency
toward granting the site landmark
status, which would prevent
any future alteration to the
building’s exterior, comparing
the process to a Carroll Gardens
building that was given protected
status mere weeks after it
was listed for sale.
“Such priorities sometimes
seem to be political and not
based on urgent need and merit.
Just look at the record time the
agency landmarked the Hans
S. Christian Memorial Kindergarten
in Carroll Gardens,” said
Linda Allende. “Such swift action
in that instance, compared
with the LPC response in this
case, proves that the LPC can act
when they want, regardless of the
need to study an issue. So what is
the difference?”
The Historic District Council,
a city-wide nonprofi t advocacy
organization, joined the effort to
landmark the church, arguing
that the Commission should be
particularly sensitive to preservation
of religious structures.
“Houses of worship all over
the city are under assault, as
some congregations have become
obsolete. However, that
does not relegate these small
masterpieces to functional obsolescence,”
said Executive Director
Simeon Bankoff. “Much can
be done to adapt religious structures
for new uses, and with the
LPC’s oversight, this task could
be done exceptionally well.”
Respect Brooklyn is urging
the public to support the
effort by signing onto its petition,
which currently boasts
more than 150 signatures, and
by emailing Borough President
Eric Adams and Councilman
Mathieu Eugene.
The group remains hopeful
that added public interest, along
with the recent acknowledgement
of the issue by the Commission,
will be enough to secure
protected status to the beloved
building, said Respect Brooklyn
member Harry Bubbins.
FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE: A local group aims to preserve Flatbush Presbyterian
Church, at E. 23rd Street and Foster Avenue, from destruction. Respect
Brooklyn