3/ They were districts because the character of the streets and blocks was as important as the large majority of buildings. One 1880 brownstone alone might not say much, but an entire block of 1880 brownstones facing each other contribute to the character of the neighborhood.

4/ What's the first thing you see when you visit a city? Jane Jacobs asked in Death and Life (published in 1961). That's how you get your first impression of whether a city is good or bad, she said. A single beautiful building in an ugly tower-in-a-parking is overwhelmed.

5/ REBNY, however, wants us to focus on the individual building so they can parasitically build in a neighborhood with character without respecting the character. For them it's a win win, but for the neighborhood it can be a loss.