Important from The New York Landmarks Conservancy: Take Action: Write the Mayor - Designation Process Flawed
LPC: One Step Forward...Too Many Steps Back
The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) designated the final stretch of West End Avenue yesterday, but only after carving out nearly 10% of the original district. LPC removed more than twenty buildings along Broadway, and took out some side streets altogether.
We welcome the completion of an initiative to unite all of West End Avenue within landmark protection. The designation had overwhelming political and public support.
But the process was deeply flawed.
There was little prior notice that a large number of buildings would be excluded. No detailed explanation of why some buildings suddenly didn’t make the cut. No chance for public testimony at yesterday’s meeting. What other conclusion can there be than leaving out almost the entire stretch of Broadway is a clear gift to developers. When this district was first heard in 2011, the Real Estate Board of New York specifically asked that Broadway be excluded.
The Commissioners’ vote rebuked the lengthy and detailed work of the agency's own staff, who researched and recommended the original boundaries and then worked with building owners, in a series of community meetings and one-on-one for years.
The Commission also ignored a long list of elected officials who asked that those boundaries remain intact: Congressman Jerry Nadler, Assemblypersons Daniel O’Donnell and Linda Rosenthal, Borough President Gale Brewer, Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and local Council Member Helen Rosenthal.
LPC defended the absence of public testimony by saying there was no legal requirement for it. That’s not good enough. What happened to transparency and public engagement?
The public needs an early and detailed notice if LPC intends to change district boundaries. The public must have a chance to speak. And the Commissioners must explain how their actions promote preservation.
TAKE ACTION: The Landmarks Commission is a Mayoral agency answering to City Hall. Write Mayor de Blasio and insist that LPC’s process be improved. Tell him that LPC’s job is to protect our heritage and our neighborhoods---not create development sites.
