WHAT:    LPC Public Hearing for Grand Army Plaza (5th Ave and 58th St.)

WHEN:    Tuesday, May 21st, 2013--BE HERE BY 2:00 PM

WHERE:  NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission, 1 Centre Street

Grand Army Plaza in Manhattan, one of New York City's most important Beaux Arts public spaces, is scheduled for reconstruction by the Central Park Conservancy (CPC).  Located on Fifth Avenue between East 58th and 60th Streets, the plaza anchors the southeast corner of Central park and provides a verdant oasis amidst one of the busiest urban spaces in NYC.  Designed as an outdoor room, in the manner of a French garden, the plaza was created in 1916 by the eminent firm of Carrère and Hastings, architects of the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue.  Over time, with alterations and loss of the original site furnishings, this once grand public space has become seriously dilapidated, and is now in need of a complete historical restoration.

Unfortunately, the proposed reconstruction by the CPC merely seeks to restore the plaza as is - compounding the mistakes, accretions and loss of historic fabric over the past 100 years.  Instead, we believe that the plaza deserves to be restored to its original glory as a public outdoor gathering space.  Grand Army Plaza merits a full restitution of the original site furnishings, including the custom-designed balustrades, benches, lighting, paving and pleached trees that together created a cohesive, elegant garden room in midtown Manhattan.

Please join us in advocating for a complete restoration for this historically important piece of public outdoor architecture in NYC.  The plaza reconstruction issue will be heard at a public hearing at the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday, May 21.  Only by submitting testimony to the Landmarks Preservation Commission will your voice will be heard.  Testimony may be submitted in writing - by email, or also in person - by attending the hearing.

Do not take public testimony for granted. Let the Landmarks Preservation Commission know the importance of conducting a proper restoration of one of New York City's most iconic spaces.

Can't attend the hearing at the LPC? We will do our best to try to arrange to have your statement read into the record on your behalf.