Landmarks had originally scheduled removal of 94 potential individual landmarks and two historic districts from its calendar for December 9th. On December 5, 2014, the Landmarks Preservation Commission rescinded plans to remove 96 items from its calendar without bringing the items to a vote of designation. The items planned to be removed included 94 items calendared as potential individual City landmarks, and two potential historic districts. The action, called a decalendaring, was scheduled to take place at its public meeting on December 9, 2015. (more…)

Landmarks provides forum for accord and controversy during numerous hearings. On June 24, 2008, Landmarks heard testimony on eight potential City landmarks, as well as one historic district extension. According to spokesperson Lisi de Bourbon, Landmarks grouped the designation hearings on one day to demonstrate certain themes and priorities like post-war architecture, public libraries, and the Commission’s recent review of architecture in the West Village.

The proposed extension of Queens’ Douglaston Historic to encompass 22 more buildings proved controversial, with some area property owners vigorously opposing the plan. Council Member Tony Avella, who represents the district, testified that he supports designation, but stated that the proposal had generated “a real civil war” in the neighborhood and that ill will would remain long after the issue had been settled. In contrast, Midtown Manhattan’s 275 Madison Avenue building, a 1930s Art-Deco skyscraper designed by Kenneth Franzheim, received support from both its owners and preservationists.

The F. W. Devoe & Company Factory, built in 1882 by the firm of Kimball & Wisedale, exemplifies 19th Century industrial design. Currently in residential use , the building occupies a site in the far West Village close to the Hudson River and the former Gansevoort Market. In Harlem, the George Bruce and 125th Street Branches of the New York Public Library were both funded by Andrew Carnegie and designed by Carrere and Hastings and McKim, Mead & White, respectively. The Municipal Art Society endorsed the libraries’ designation and urged Landmarks to look at other buildings along the 125th Street corridor.

Abram and Ann Dissoway Cole House, a 1840s residence, adamantly opposed landmarking, claiming it amounted to condemnation by eminent domain without compensation. The owner’s attorney, Philip Rampulla, testified that the building’s original fabric had been extensively damaged in a 1999 fire, and a representative of Council Member Vincent Ignizio testified that while many buildings in southern Staten Island deserve designation “this is not one of them.” The owner intends to sell the property to a developer aspiring to build a mall at the site, lending urgency to preservationists’ calls for landmarking.

Landmarks has not yet set a date to vote on designations.

LPC: Douglaston Historic District Extension, Queens (LP-2301); 275 Madison Avenue Building, Manhattan (LP-2286); F.W. Devoe & Company Factory Building, 110 Horatio St., Manhattan (LP-2308); N.Y. Public Library, George Bruce Branch, 518 W. 125th St., Manhattan (LP-2304); N.Y. Public Library, 125th Street Branch, 224 E. 125th St., Manhattan (LP-2305); Dissoway Cole House, 4927 Arthur Kill Rd., Staten Island (LP-2310) (June 24, 2008).

Silver Towers, also known as University Village. Photo: LPC.

Towers were part of Robert Moses’ urban renewal project to preserve housing for middle-income Manhattan residents. Landmarks launched public consideration on the designation of three towers, collectively known as Silver Towers or University Village, located on the block bounded by LaGuardia Place and Bleecker, Mercer, and Houston Streets. New York University uses two of the towers for student and faculty housing, while the third is owned by a private cooperative and protected under the Mitchell-Lama Housing Program.

Pritzker Prize-winning architect I.M. Pei designed the 32-story towers in the International Modernist style. Photographer and architecture critic Cervin Robinson described the towers as “clear proof that inexpensive housing can be distinguished architecture.” (more…)

Designations include Lord & Taylor store and Eberhard Faber Pencil Co. complex. On October 30, 2007, Landmarks voted unanimously to designate seven individual buildings and one new historic district.

In Manhattan, Landmarks designated the Lord & Taylor flagship store in Midtown, the Manhattan House in the Upper East Side, and two federal-era rowhouses in the Lower East Side. The Lord & Taylor store dates back to 1914 and is an example of the Italian Renaissance Revival style. 4 CityLand 111 (Aug. 15, 2007). At the hearing, Landmarks Chair Robert B. Tierney referred to it as “another landmark hidden in plain sight.” Commissioner Margery Perlmutter enthusiastically supported designation of the Manhattan House, a white-brick apartment building on East 66th Street, stating that the International-Style building set the standard for contemporary architecture. Landmarks also designated two federal-era rowhouses at 511 and 513 Grand Street in the Lower East Side. (more…)

Jamaica Savings Bank had been denied landmark status in 1974 and 1992. On May 15, 2007, Landmarks held a public hearing on the Jamaica Savings Bank, an 1898 Beaux-Arts style building prominently located on Jamaica Avenue near 161st Street in Queens. Landmarks designated the building twice in the past, but the Board of Estimate overturned the 1974 vote and the City Council denied Landmarks’ second attempt in 1992. The owner of the building opposed designation both times and the community split over its merits, with some calling the abandoned building an eyesore.

Designed by Hough & Deuell, the four-story limestone facade features a carved stone beehive, a traditional symbol of industry, thrift and prosperity found on many bank buildings.

Support for the designation came from Queens Community Board 12 Chair Gloria Black, who explained that the area suffered from urban decay and now, with City Planning’s proposal to rezone 368 blocks of the district, she finally Volume 4 CITYLAND June 15, 2007 envisions new possibilities for her neighborhood. A representative of the Jamaica Center BID testified, saying that the BID traditionally remains neutral on land use applications, but, with this proposed designation, its members believed it should speak out in support of the building’s preservation. Several Queens preservation groups also testified in support. Ed Kirkland of the Historic Districts Council remained “cautiously happy” about a third attempt, adding that he feared this could be a “third strike and out.”

Landmarks closed the public hearing without a full discussion of its commissioners.

LPC: Jamaica Savings Bank, 161-02 Jamaica Avenue (LP-2109) (May 15, 2007).

CITYLAND Comment: Landmarks has not yet contacted the current owner of the Jamaica Savings Bank.

The Planning Commission held its public hearing on the Jamaica rezoning plan on May 23, 2007. A vote is expected in June.