The End Of Raccuglia Funeral Home's Neon Sign?

Just on Friday, I posted photos of  the transformation of Raccuglia's Funeral Home.  Over the last few weeks, the1960's stucco façade has been removed, revealing some of the old brick.
One small section remained last week, along with part of the neon sign over the front entrance on Sackett.  
Friend and reader Mary just passed along the photos below of the sign, which now has been removed.  She writes:  "Hopefully, not headed to the dump."
One can only hope, but somehow, I am afraid that's its fate.  

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It Took Years, But Work On Raccuglia's Façade Almost Completed

Before

After

Since 2007, Raccuglia's Funeral Home on the corner of Sackett and Court Street, has been hidden behind scaffolding, but in all the years since, no work ever seemed to take place on the building.  Local residents often wondered what was going on and why the scaffolding seemed to have become a permanent fixture.
Then, finally, in October 2011, workers started chipping off the 1960's style stone face, exposing the original brick.  Unfortunately, much of the façade was in pretty bad shape and entire sections of brick had to be replaced.
Over the last few days, the scaffolding has finally come down, revealing the (almost) finished result .  Only a little bit of that stone face is still visible behind the old sign above the entrance on Sackett. 
So, what do you think of the transformation?

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After 4 Years, Work Finally Begins On Raccuglia's Façade

Over the last few years, many in Carroll Gardens have wondered what was up with the sidewalk shed around Raccuglia's Funeral Home at the corner of Court and Sackett Streets. The scaffolding was first erected in 2007, the permit was renewed several times, but there never was any work done on the building's façade.  Until now, that is.
Just in the last week, a crew has added to the scaffolding's height and has begun to chip away at the old, unsightly 1960's style stone face, revealing the building's original brick. 
It's nice to see any type of progress after all this time.   Perhaps, soon, that scaffolding will finally come down.

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What's Up With Scaffolding At Raccuglia's Funeral Home? It's Been Almost Four Years

Believe it or not, the scaffolding surrounding Raccuglia's Funeral home at 323 Court Street has been up for nearly 4 years. According to the NYC Department Of Building's web site, an application for the scaffolding was approved in May 2007. It has been renewed several times, but no work was ever performed on the place.

Over the years, local residents have wondered what was up, like fellow blogger Brooks of Sheffield over at Lost City, who remarked on it in late 2007 and in 2008.

And just a few days ago, I received an email from local residents J and J, who write:

Hello Miss PMFA,

Just was curious if you or any of your faithful readers know anything about the status of the scaffolding at Court and Sackett Sts surrounding Raccuglia's Funeral Home. My wife and I moved into the neighborhood over 4 years ago and there was only a short amount of time in which there was NOT unsightly scaffolding--and we have NEVER seen any work being done.

Is it to protect funeral goers from the rain? More than anything, it seems to attract teenagers to gather and drink beneath it in the summer ...Thanks! J&J

Good question! What exactly is the issue with the building, and why would it take four years to address it? Not that a funeral parlor is ever a happy place, but surely, the scaffolding makes it look sadder than it has to be, no?

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