Award winners were announced for the 33rd Lucy G. Moses Preservation Awards for 2023. The Lucy G. Moses Awards are the Conservancy’s highest honors for outstanding preservation efforts, named for a dedicated New Yorker whose generosity benefited the City for more than 50 years.
Continue reading “New York City Landmarks Conservancy Lucy G. Moses Preservation Awards for 2023”
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) is celebrating the upcoming New York City Marathon (Sunday, November 6, 2022) with a story map of landmarks along the route. Released last year for the marathon’s 50th running, the NYC Marathon Landmarks story map highlights a selection of 50 landmarks and historic districts along the route in all five boroughs.
“The New York City Marathon is an awe-inspiring event that unites tens of thousands of athletes running for personal causes and personal bests and over a million spectators cheering them on all the way,” said Landmarks Preservation Commission Chair Sarah Carroll. “With this story map, we want to highlight many of the significant landmarks and historic districts along the way that represent the city’s diverse history and architectural highlights and offer incredible views connecting the runners and crowds to the city around them.”
On Tuesday, October 25, 2022, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) held a public hearing on the proposed designation of The Lesbian Herstory Archives at 484 Fourteenth Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The proposed individual landmark is culturally significant as the home since 1991 of the Lesbian Herstory Archives, the nation’s oldest and largest collection of lesbian-related historical material.
On November 22, 2022, LPC voted to approve The Lesbian Herstory Archives, located at 484 Fourteenth Street in Brooklyn, as an Individual Historic Landmark. It is the first individual landmark in Brooklyn designated for its LGBTQ+ associations.
“I am delighted Commission has designated the home of the Lesbian Herstory Archives, an important community space and a nationally important collection of LGBTQ+ historical materials,” said Landmarks Preservation Commission Chair Sarah Carroll. “For over 30 years, the building has been the site of the Archives’ essential role in preserving and telling the stories of a mostly unseen community of women, including many who have contributed to America’s cultural, political, and social history. This designation draws attention to the importance of the Lesbian Herstory Archives to New York City and the country’s history and to LGBTQ+ communities.”
There are 1,400 Individual Landmarks throughout this City.
The Julius’ Bar Building located at 186-188 Waverly Place and 159 West 10th Street, held public testimony at the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission Zoom meeting on November 15, 2022. The iconic building moved forward in its final step, with two of the many speakers in support of Landmarking, Andrew Berman and Randy Wicker, On Tuesday, December 6, 2022, the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission unanimously designated the Julius’ Bar Building to be a NYC Individual Landmark. Commissioner Michael Goldblum spoke eloquently about the importance of “holding on to a time in New York‘ when Greenwich Village looked quite different than it does today, and the importance of focusing on the fact that “it’s all about the history.”
Located at West 10th Street and Waverly Place in the Greenwich Village Historic District, the building housing Julius’ Bar is one of the city’s most significant LGBTQ+ history sites. In 1966, three years before the Stonewall Rebellion, members of the Mattachine Society sat at Julius’ bar, ordered drinks, announced they were gay, and were refused service. At a time of rampant discrimination—when few LGBTQ+ people lived openly, and gay New Yorkers were being targeted for arrest in city bars—this courageous act and other events at Julius’ led to major progress in fighting discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and enabling them to gather openly in public places.
Continue reading “Julius’ Bar Building Designated a NYC Individual Landmark”
Today, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) launched the LPC Designation Photo Collection, a digital photo archive of New York City’s designated landmarks and historic districts. The digital photo archive allows the public to easily search and explore high-resolution images of designated buildings and sites throughout the five boroughs, and property owners, architects and contractors can now easily search and download designation photos as they consider work on these properties. This project was made possible, in part, through a grant from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
On Tuesday, October 18, 2022, NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) held a public hearing on the proposed Melrose Parkside Historic District in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn.
The proposed Melrose Parkside Historic District is a remarkably cohesive and intact group of 38 single- and two-family row houses located on Parkside Avenue between Flatbush and Bedford avenues in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn.
A meeting will be scheduled in the near future for a vote.
On Tuesday, June 28, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) designated the Cambria Heights-222nd Street Historic District and Cambria Heights-227th Historic District in Queens. With their Tudor and Storybook-style design, the historic districts’ row houses are among the architectural highlights of the Cambria Heights neighborhood and southeastern Queens.
In honor of Pride Month, today, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), announced the launch of Pride: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Landmarks, an interactive story map highlighting individual landmarks designated for their association with people and organizations that made significant contributions to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) cultural and civil rights movements. Through narrative text, photos, maps, and multimedia content, the public can learn more about the important history behind these landmarks.
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission held hearings on an application to demolish the individual landmarked West-Park Presbyterian Church, located at 541 Amsterdam Avenue in NYC, on the grounds of financial hardship. Speakers lined up on Zoom, on all sides of the issue, with the June 14, 2022 meeting lasting more than four-hours. Below is a little background and a thumbnail sketch of that meeting.
After the June 14th meeting, 8 Commissioners from NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission visited the site. In the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission meeting on July 19, 2022, which lasted 2 1/2 hours, it was determined that after careful (and ongoing expert) review, findings will be presented after Labor Day, and more discussion will take place at that time. View the entire July 19th meeting on YouTube Here.
New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) announced the launch of 50 for the 50th, an interactive story map in honor of the New York City Marathon’s 50th running to celebrate the return of what many people call “New York’s Best Day” after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 marathon. The story map highlights a selection of 50 landmarks and historic districts along the route in all five boroughs.
On November 9, 2021, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) designated the 200 Madison Avenue First Floor Lobby Interior First Floor Lobby an interior landmark. The historic lobby of 200 Madison Avenue is among the best-preserved and least-known interiors produced by the prolific architecture firm Warren & Wetmore.
NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission voted on June 22, 2021 to designate the Aakawaxung Munahanung (Island Protected from the Wind) Archeological Site on Staten Island as an Individual New York City Landmark.
Located in Tottenville at the southern-most point of Staten Island, the Conference House Park Archaeological Site contains the region’s largest known prehistoric burial ground and the largest and best-preserved known archaeological site documenting Native American life beginning about 8,000 years ago and continuing through the Colonial period. The proposed landmark site includes approximately 20 acres of highly archaeologically sensitive land located within the city’s Conference House Park. Designation would recognize the over-8,000-year history of Native American occupation of the site and protect its below-ground archaeological resources.
This week, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) announced the launch of its Open Office Hours initiative for homeowners considering work on their designated buildings. This initiative will enable property owners to virtually meet one-on-one with preservation staff to discuss their potential projects and ask questions about LPC permitting.
NYC Landmarks Preservation commission voted June 22, 2021 to designate the Kimlau War Memorial in Chinatown a New York City Landmark. The Kimlau War Memorial is significant for its association with the architect Pay G. Lee, and for its importance as a monument dedicated to the contributions of Chinese American veterans.
This week, NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the Harlem Branch of the New York Public Library an Individual Landmark.
As we approach the 100th anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance, the proposed Dorrance Brooks Square Historic District would recognize this neighborhood’s significant association with notable African Americans in the fields of politics, literature, healthcare, and education during the Harlem Renaissance from the early 1920s to the 1940s. The proposed district consists of intact streetscapes of a striking variety of 19th and early- 20th century row houses, multi-family dwellings, and institutions, designed by prominent New York City architects within two sections on either side of Frederick Douglass Boulevard between West 136th Street and West 140th Street.
This week, New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated Harlem’s Dorrance Brooks Square a Historic District.
On March 23, 2021, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) held a virtual public hearing on the proposed designation of 70 Fifth Avenue, known as the Educational Building, in Greenwich Village. In a meeting on May 18, 2021, a final vote was taken with all in favor, designating 70 Fifth Avenue as a NYC Landmark.
Continue reading “70 Fifth Avenue, a Historic Educational Building, Now a NYC Landmark”
On March 23, 2021, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) held a virtual public hearing on the proposed designation of Holyrood Episcopal Church~Iglesia Santa Cruz, located at 715 West 179th Street in Washington Heights. All were in favor in a vote on May 18, 2021, confirming Holyrood Episcopal Church~Iglesia Santa Cruz as a New York City Landmark.
Today, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) released an interactive story map called Preserving Significant Places of Black History to celebrate New York City’s African American history through designated landmarks and historic districts. For five decades LPC has been recognizing, supporting, and celebrating places of African American cultural and historic significance through designation. This story map highlights landmarks and historic districts that illustrate the experiences and achievements of African Americans through interactive maps, narrative text, images, and multimedia content.
On Tuesday, November 10, 2020, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) voted to designate the main building of the Angel Guardian Home as an Individual Landmark. The enthusiastic vote registered 16 in favor with zero opposition, along with 71 letters in favor. This architecturally distinctive building serves as a reminder of the important role played by religious social service organizations in Brooklyn’s early 20th century history. This would be the first landmark in this area.
Today, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) designated Public School 48 at 155-02 108th Avenue in South Jamaica, Queens as an individual landmark. Its successful blend of Art Deco design elements and massing was novel for elementary schools at the time it was proposed, and it represents a significant early application of the style for New York City schools.
“I am delighted that Public School 48 is our latest individual landmark as it is the first designation in South Jamaica, Queens,” said Landmarks Preservation Commission Chair Sarah Carroll. “For the past 70 years, P.S. 48 has both served the community and enhanced it with its beautifully executed design. Its Art Deco style details, which are quite striking in person, make it unique, and it is one of the first elementary schools New York City to incorporate this architectural style.”
New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) held a public hearing on the proposed East 25th Street Historic District in Flatbush, Brooklyn and this week, voted to designate this historic district in East Flatbush. The new historically designated district is a cohesive group of 56 Renaissance Revival style row houses built by a single developer, the Henry Meyer Building Company, between 1909 and 1912. Located on East 25th Street between Clarendon Road and Avenue D, this is the first historic district in East Flatbush.
On February 2, 2021, the New York City Landmark Preservation Commission voted to designate 227 Duffield Street (aka Abolitionist Place), Brooklyn, a New York City Landmark, with a vote of 11 in favor and 0 against.
Shortly after designation, New York City purchased the house. Signs were posted with permits for stabilization of the historic building in 2022, but a month later, the rear walls appear to be collapsing, with an image on Twitter from Todd Fine showing the entire rear of the building open. We hope for a positive update.
The home is a rare surviving 19th Century abolitionists’ home, and a stop on the historic underground railroad. Don’t miss the fabulous Youtube video below with ‘Mama Joy’ Chatel.
On the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission agenda in December, 2018, was a discussion on the 1st Spanish United Methodist Church becoming an Individual Landmark. Also known as The People’s Church, the discussion is not for its architectural merit, but for its historic cultural significance, located in the heart of El Barrio, associated with the Young Lords occupation in 1969 and 1970. On Tuesday, December 12, 2018, it was determined that the history of the Young Lords still divides the community, and both the Church and the local Council Member would like more time to allow for more community dialogue. The 1st Spanish United Methodist Church will be removed from the calendar, per time limits established by Section 25-303(1) of the Landmarks Law, and can be considered for designation at a future date.
Join the First Spanish Methodist Church on May 21st and 22nd, 2022 for its 100th Anniversary!
Continue reading “El Barrio’s People’s Church Celebrates 100th Anniversary May 21-22, 2022”
