Updated and corrected May 10, 2009 11:35 p.m. ET
NEW YORK—Each year since 2006, New Yorkers gather to remind City Hall of the importance of the work of the agency that designates historic districts and buildings as landmarks. City Council members and members of over 100 community organizations from all five boroughs rallied for increased city funding of the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) at City Hall on Wednesday.
The Commission is charged with preserving the character of buildings and districts of historical significance. Under the landmarks preservation law, owners of designated buildings are allowed to renovate, but without disturbing the aesthetic and historical value of the building. The Commission’s work is supported by a number of non-profit and community groups.
The Historic Districts Council (HDC) is one of the major players in New York City preservation. At this year’s rally, it put forth the case that preservation is not counter to economic growth. Instead, reusing facades and other parts of a historic building in renovations saves money and energy, and preserving the character of the city’s unique and rich cultural neighborhoods enhances tourism and livability.
The HDC’s executive director Simeon Bankoff underscored the importance of preservation. “Our city’s historic buildings and neighborhoods are what draw people to come to New York and stay here; without them this city is an empty shell,” he said.
Bankoff says increased funding will allow the agency to review the multitude of buildings backlogged in their system, increase transparency in its decision-making process, and enhance communication with other city agencies.
Over the three years that preservationists have been holding the annual rally, they have been successful in gaining funding for the LPC. Currently, the LPC’s budget is one of the smallest of any city agency. The $300,000 of funding they secured last year allowed them to hire five additional staff members who were able to review 2,200 buildings, according to council member Jessica Lappin, who chairs the City Council’s landmarks subcommittee. She hopes that Mayor Michael Bloomberg will ensure that the LPC’s funding remains intact for the 2010 fiscal year.
The LPC receives nominations from city residents for buildings and districts that they think need to be preserved.
But it’s a long and often confusing process, says long-time preservationist Ed Kirkland. “There’s no way of knowing how long the process will take [to get a building designated,]” Kirkland said. “It’s a mystery even to those who have known it for a long time.” He has been working to preserve neighborhoods for over 40 years.
After a building or district gets on the list, it could take months for it to get a public hearing. Then, the Commission has to do a designation report that details why the building or district should become a landmark. The report goes to city planning, which then makes sure that landmark plans are consistent with its vision for the neighborhood. Finally, the City Council has to approve, and the Mayor signs it off.
The council member of the district has a huge sway on how the process plays out, said Kirkland. “If some influential person or politician is for it, you'd be surprised how short it can be,” he said. “Landmarking is getting wrapped up in politics, unfortunately, just like everything else.”
Correction: The original article incorrectly stated in its headline and text that the Landmark Commission organized the May 6 rally outside City Hall. The EpochTimes regrets the error.
