Preservation and protection of our architectural, historical, and cultural assets is one of the most important factors in assuring that New York remains a livable city. Preserving the best of our city's past and adapting it for reuse in the 21st century greatly enhances the quality of life for all citizens. Individual Landmarks and historic districts continue to offer substantial opportunities for economic development, the revitalization of neighborhoods, the stabilization of property values, and the enhancement of the tourism industry.
The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and others would have you think otherwise. REBNY recently joined forces with a handful of construction and development industry groups to challenge the City's 1965 Landmarks Law. This coalition seeks, in effect, to give development precedence over protection of New York's landmark buildings and neighborhoods.
Their implications that landmark designation is "over-reaching" and will effectively freeze New York City in amber -- a "look but don't touch" mentality -- could not be further from the truth. As Crain's reported, citing an interview with our partners in preservation, the New York Landmarks Conservancy (NYLC):
Landmarked sites represent "a miniscule portion of the city," at about 3% of all buildings in the five boroughs. "There are plenty of places to build," [said NYLC Executive Director, Peg Breen]. "There's plenty of room for new buildings, even in historic districts. Nobody's freezing the city, nobody's creating a museum. We're creating places people want to work and visit."
The West Side is one such place, in which tens of thousands of New Yorkers invest and call home. And a place countless tourists from all corners of the globe come to experience the architecture (Dakota Apartments!), culture (Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts!), and history (American Museum of Natural History!) of New York City. It is not a coincidence that our West Side community is home to perhaps the City's greatest concentration of existing and proposed landmark-protected buildings. We are stewards of 2,700+ landmark buildings, both Individual Landmarks and historic districts included. Landmarking continues to grow on the Upper West Side because people want preservation.
We echo the strong words of the Historic Districts Council (HDC):
Preservation practices empower communities, celebrate our history, drive economic growth and sustain development efforts. Preservation enhances our streetscapes, nurtures tourism, encourages investment and employs local labor. It is a popular, populist movement driven by regular New Yorkers who value their homes and their city.
HDC is forming a coalition to support the Landmarks Law and will be hosting a public meeting to discuss this topic (date and location TBD).
We need you. Your community needs you. Stay tuned for updates via email, and visit http://hdc.org/historic-district-15/help-save-the-landmarks-law to share your thoughts, sign up for the coalition and learn more.
