Robert B. Tierney, Chairman of the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Last week CityLand published a Guest Commentary from Steven Spinola, President of REBNY.  Robert B. Tierney, Chairman of the Landmarks Preservation Commission submitted this commentary in response.

The Landmarks Law, enacted in 1965, has been responsive to New Yorkers’ demand that their historic neighborhoods be preserved. The architecturally and historically distinctive streetscapes found in all five boroughs reflect more than 300 years of growth, and play an integral role in our City’s economic well-being. (read more…)

Landmarks considered eclectic mix of architectural styles built over the last two hundred years. On June 22, 2010, Landmarks held hearings on eleven potential individual landmarks in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn. The buildings under Landmarks’ consideration were all built between 1800 and 1971 and represent a range of architectural styles. The buildings included the Modernist Japan Society Building on the east side of Manhattan, a Spanish Baroque Revival theater on Canal Street, and a Federal- style house in Tribeca. The Japan Society Building at 333 East 47th Street in Manhattan’s Turtle Bay received praise from preservationists. The Junzo Yoshimura-designed building was built in 1971 on land donated by John D. Rockefeller III. Yoshimura, a Tokyo resident, was one of the first prominent Asian architects to see his work built in the City. The building fuses Japanese tradition with modernism and was built using a variety of materials, including bronze and concrete. The building’s black facade is detailed with slatted window screens and latticework along the street.

During the hearing, Landmarks Chair Robert B. Tierney read a letter submitted by the Japan Society that said it “welcomes official recognition.” A representative of Docomomo, a Modern Movement architectural advocacy group, spoke in support and said the building’s facade “conveys a sleek, elegant image of modern Japan.” (read more…)

Ship’s captain built Federal style rowhouse as speculative investment during the Lower East Side’s early period of development. On February 9, 2010, Landmarks voted unanimously to designate the 143 Allen Street House as an individual City landmark. Built between 1830 and 1831 by merchant and ship captain George Sutton, the two-and-a-half story Flemish bondbrick rowhouse was part of a row of six similar buildings. The home was built during a period of rapid development in an area considered to be a rural outskirt. Today it is one of the few remaining Federal style rowhouses in the Lower East Side. 143 Allen Street originally served as a middle class, single-family residence, but was subdivided as the Lower East Side lost cachet and became home to waves of Irish, German, and Eastern European immigrants. The building remains as the lone survivor of the original development, after its remaining sibling was demolished in the 1980s. (read more…)

Current fee structure created in 2004. On August 4, 2009, Landmarks held a hearing on a proposed fee increase for new building and alteration applications. The rule was published in the City Record on July 2, 2009.

The proposed rule would increase Landmarks’ fee for new one-, two-, and three-family dwellings from six to ten cents per square foot. For all other buildings, the proposed rule would increase the fee from thirteen to twenty cents per square foot, but not less than $100 per structure.

A $50 flat fee for building alterations costing up to $25,000 would remain unchanged. Landmarks would increase an incremental fee for each additional $1,000 spent above $25,000 from three to four dollars. As examples, the fee for a proposed $15,000 storefront alteration would be $50, while the fee for a proposed $300,000 three-story addition would rise from $875 to $1,150. (read more…)