First Group of Backlogged Items Designated

Landmarks voted to de-calendar St. Augustine’s Church and Rectory after designating an extension the Park Slope Historic District, in which the church is located. On April 12, 2016, the Landmarks Preservation Commission cast dispositive votes on ten items for designation, nine of which were included in the commission’s backlog initiative. Eight individual landmarks were designated, as well as one historic district. Commissioners voted to remove one item, St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church and Rectory, … <Read More>


Commission Held First of Four Special Hearings to Address Backlog

Wide support voiced for designation of Coney Island pumping Station; potential extension to Douglaston Historic District and individual designation of Queens Apartment complex and religious structures proved contentious. On October 8, 2015, the Landmarks Preservation Commission held the first of four hearings meant to address the backlog of items on the Commission’s calendar added prior to 2010. Twenty-nine items were considered, in three groupings of multiple items clustered by borough. Each speaker had three minutes … <Read More>


Robert Carroll: “The Believers”

(This post originally appeared on October 28, 2014.)

“How far will you go to achieve what you want?” “How long will you hold up when the outside world pushes back?” These questions, frequently decided by the strength of a person’s beliefs, form the basis of The Believers, the debut play of playwright and New York Law School alum Robert Carroll.


Residential Redevelopment of Theater Proposed for Bartel-Pritchard Circle Site

Proposal would demolish one-story commercial building to construct five-story-plus-penthouse apartment building, and build a contemporary addition onto 1920s theater. On April 18, 2015, Landmarks considered a proposal to demolish a one-story 1920s commercial building, construct a new apartment building, and alter and build an addition to a 1920s theater at 187-191 Prospect Park West in the Park Slope Historic District Extension. The theater building, at the corner of 14th Street, faces Prospect Park, … <Read More>


CityLaw Profile: Robert Carroll – Bridging Politics and Theater

Robert Carroll graduated New York Law School in 2013 and his first written play The Believers opened in 2014.  While a person could draw many inferences about Robert Carroll’s career path from examining his family history, “playwright” is not likely one that immediately comes to mind.  The 28 year old has pursued his interests in theater and politics in parallel, demonstrating a conscious refusal to let his job description restrict him all the while.


David Yassky: Shepherding In a New Era In Taxi Service

Taxi service in Manhattan has taken on a different look the past few years as the ubiquitous Crown Victoria cabs were gradually replaced by a variety of mostly smaller, sleeker and more efficient vehicles. There’s a new color too, green cabs are now popping up in the outer boroughs of the City. Taxi & Limousine Commissioner David Yassky has been at the helm of the changing taxi service landscape, and at times it has been … <Read More>