Kentile Floors Brooklyn
Located in the gowanus neighborhood of brooklyn kentile floors has been relegated to a footnote in history.
Kentile floors brooklyn. Kentile s asbestos trust began accepting claims in march 2015 and currently holds 193 million in funds. The company began as a small brooklyn tile company in 1898. Asbestos containing floor tiles were produced by kentile floors a brooklyn ny company that filed bankruptcy in 1992. Kentile floors was founded in 1898 by arthur kennedy in brooklyn new york the company produced large durable vinyl cork and rubber floor tiles many of which incorporated up to 25 asbestos.
A team of artists plans to use powerful projectors to animate the 8 story tall kentile floors sign as a parting kiss after dark on friday. Kentile floors was founded in 1898 by arthur kennedy. Kentile floors flourished under founder arthur kennedy specializing in vinyl asphalt and cork floor tiles. Kentile flooring founded in 1898 manufactured cork vinyl and rubber flooring products that included as much as 25 percent asbestos.
The company remained in brooklyn for 100 years before going out of business. Gowanus s kentile floors sign has been sitting in storage since 2014 but the much loved remnant of the area s industrial past may soon be making its return. The beacon of gowanus expressway and f train commuters. Asbestos exposures at kentile floors brooklyn new york.
By boundless brooklyn from the elevated portion of the f g subway lines near smith 9th streets to the curving lanes of the prospect expressway the kentile floors sign was a reassuring beacon that you were in the heart of brooklyn. Kentile floors sign brooklyn ny. Many have adopted it as a symbol of gowanus brooklyn. Originally the company produced vinyl rubber and cork floor tiles.
Kentile floors in brooklyn new york was a neighborhood mainstay for many years with a recognizable neon kentile sign above its flagship factory. The products were advertised as superior flooring made with sturdy asbestos fibers kentile flooring products used in both residential and commercial applications offered a wide range of decorative options. Today the company is mostly remembered for its large corporate sign that burst into brooklyn s sky for several decades. Founder arthur kennedy 1898 at least as 9 x 9 resilient flooring in a variety of patterns left and shades as we illustrate in photographs in this article.