Beth Hamedrash Hagodol Synagogue at the time of designation./Image Credit: LPC

The former landmarked synagogue was home to the country’s oldest Russian Orthodox Jewish congregation. On May 19, 2020, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to calendar a decision to rescind the individual landmark designation of a vacant lot, located at 60 Norfolk Street, Manhattan. The lot was formerly the site of the Beth Hamedrash Hagodol Synagogue, which was fully demolished in 2019 after a fire destroyed most of the building.

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Hamilton Grange at its current location./Image Credit: LPC

The Federal-style mansion is also a national historic landmark. On May 19, 2020, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to calendar a decision to amend the individual landmark designation for the Hamilton Grange mansion located in Hamilton Heights, Manhattan. Hamilton Grange is a two-story frame mansion that belonged to Alexander Hamilton. The mansion was located at 287 Convent Avenue at the time of its designation but it was moved to 414 West 141st Street in 2008. The amendment would rescind the designation for the former site and designate the current site.

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Rendering of Kreischer House with the proposed buildings in the background. Under the modified plan, the Kreischer House is the prominent structure on the knoll./Image Credit: Victorio Associates Architect and LPC

The modified design increased the visibility of the Kreischer Mansion on the site. On May 8, 2020, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness for three actions to facilitate the development of a new senior housing complex, comprising of eleven buildings, surrounding the Kreischer House. The Kreischer House, a two and a half story Victorian-era mansion, and a portion of the land it sits on is a landmarked site in Charleston, Staten Island. The site of the new senior housing development includes the landmarked site. The approval followed a modification to the original proposed design.

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Kingsland Homestead Image Credit; Queens Historical Society

Landmark’s works to make sure Kingsland Homestead’s designation is accurate. On May 19, 2020, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to calendar a proposed amendment that would update Kingsland Homestead’s landmark designation to its current location. Kingsland Homestead was built in 1785 on tract of land located near Block 5270 in Flushing, Queens. In 1965, the two-story home was designated as a landmark at 40-25 155th Street in Flushing. Shortly after, in 1968, Landmarks approved a Certificate of Appropriateness to move the landmark to its current Weeping Beech Park location. This amendment would update the landmark designation to 143-35 37th Avenue, the Weeping Beech Park address in Flushing. Timothy Frye, Director of Special Projects and Strategic Planning, presented the application to the commission.

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Streetscape of Manida Street./Image Credit: LPC

The proposed designation received support from South Bronx residents and preservation advocates. On May 12, 2020, the Landmarks Preservation Commission held a public hearing on a proposal to designate the Manida Street Historic District in Hunts Point, Bronx. The proposed historic district will be located on Manida Street between Garrison and Lafayette Avenues and would consist of 42 semi-detached, two-story brick houses on both sides of the street. The houses on the block all have a consistent Renaissance Revival style which includes mirror image facades, rounded projecting bays, and ornamentation around the door and windows. The proposed historic district represents a period in the early-20th Century when rapid development occurred in the South Bronx. For CityLand’s prior coverage on the Manida Street Historic District designation process, click here.

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