Preservationist allegedly altered contents of letter from Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. In 2006, Landmarks held a hearing to consider the designation of the Dakota Stables, a building on the Upper West Side. Shortly before the hearing, the owner of the Dakota Stables pulled permits and began stripping the facade of the building. 3 CityLand 157 (Nov. 15, 2006). At the hearing, Virginia Parkhouse, a Landmarks West! volunteer, read a letter from Borough President Scott Stringer into the record, allegedly changing its contents. Parkhouse stated that Stringer wanted Landmarks to designate the Dakota Stables when in reality the letter merely asked Landmarks to hold a public hearing on the issue of designation. Lindsay Miller, another Landmark West! representative, signed in as representing Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal, and allegedly changed the text of her letter to read that Rosenthal advocated for designation instead of only requesting a public hearing.

After the hearing, Stringer and Rosenthal complained to Landmarks, and Landmarks referred the matter to the Department of Investigation. DOI investigated, ultimately asking Miller and Parkhouse for interviews. Parkhouse refused to comply, and DOI followed with a subpoena, which she challenged, claiming it interfered with her right to free speech and that DOI was not authorized to subpoena private citizens. A lower court disagreed and upheld the subpoena. (read more…)

Failure to designate stable allows Related Companies’ apartment project to be constructed on site. On November 14, 2006, Landmarks designated only the New York Cab Company Stable at 318 Amsterdam Avenue, but declined to landmark the Dakota Stables at 348 Amsterdam Avenue, now slated for demolition and replacement by the Related Companies with a Robert A.M. Stern-designed apartment complex. 3 CityLand 157 (Nov. 15, 2006).

Landmarks opened the voting with the New York Cab Company Stable, emphasizing the “intactness” of the 1890-built stable and its “exquisite” details, cornice, and rounded windows.

When the vote turned to the Dakota Stables, Landmarks Chair Robert B. Tierney explained that the actions of the owner, Sylgar Properties, had “preempted his ability to exercise judgment under the landmarks law.” Tierney explained that Sylgar planned to demolish the building and had recently obtained valid permits to strip the building and reclad it in stucco. Landmarks Counsel Mark Silberman and the Commission’s research head Mary Beth Betts advised him that the resulting “stucco box” would not be recognizable, and the landmarks law and Charter provided no legal redress. Tierney said that he would “reluctantly follow” the advice and reject designation. In his comments, Tierney explained that he had numerous talks with the owner, architect and developer and remained hopeful that the new design would incorporate significant features of the 1894 Dakota Stables. (read more…)