Preserving the best of the Upper West Side's neighborhood character and architectural heritage.
Preserve the Powerhouse!
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission recently announced that on Tuesday, July 14, 2009, it will hold a public hearing to consider designating the former Interborough Rapid Transit Powerhouse as an Individual NYC Landmark.
The Powerhouse stands as a majestic symbol of the City Beautiful era, designed by Stanford White of McKim, Mead & White and constructed in 1904 to provide electricity for New York's first subway system. In all of its Beaux-Arts glory, it occupies a full block on the West Side of Manhattan (11th to 12th Avenues, 58th to 59th Streets), recalling such magnificent monuments as the New York Public Library (Carrere & Hastings, 1897-1911), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1894-1902) and the late great Pennsylvania Station (McKim, Mead & White, 1910 - demolished in 1963).
For more information, please click here.
NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS PASSED
WHAT: Preservation Lobby Day
WHERE: Steps of City Hall
WHEN: Wednesday, May 6, 2009 – a press conference will begin at approximately 12 noon, but please plan to arrive by 11:45 to show critical mass
The preservation community will be out in force to support increased funding for the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) and to promote the themes outlined below. **Please let us know if you or your organization would like to sign on as a co-sponsor of the Platform!** A copy of the full Platform is attached.
"Preservation is Sustainability" Reuse and rehabilitation of older buildings should be incorporated into the City's planning process.
"Preservation is Neighborhoods" Protecting neighborhood character is a cornerstone of the City's long-term viability.
"Preservation is an Economic Catalyst" Preservation raises property values, strengthens the city's tax base and enhances tourism. The City should support efforts to expand Federal and State historic preservation tax credits and enhance the J-51 tax abatement program for landmarked properties.
"Preservation is Historic Religious Properties" A special task force should study feasible ways to support these important structures, which anchor communities and provide needed social service programs.
"Preservation is an effective Landmarks Commission" Proper staffing levels are needed to speed LPC approval of appropriate renovations and development, which stimulate economic activity.
For more information, please click here.
LANDMARK WEST! Launches Online Database:
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Upper West Side Landmarks!
For years, Upper West Siders have been asking LANDMARK WEST! questions like...
Who was the architect of my building?
What style is it?
When was it built?
Where can I find Art-Deco architecture in our area?
How can I find out if my building is a Landmark?
Usually, LW! has the answers, but not always at our fingertips. Until now...
We are very proud to announce the official launch of the Upper West Side Landmarks Online Database!
Building
A Slide Lecture by Professor Andrew S. Dolkart
Director of the Historic Preservation Program at
The Garment District is one of the most famous neighborhoods of
Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at 6:00PM
Rumors Swirl About West-Park’s Future:
Help Urge the Landmarks Commission to Save this Building
West-Park Presbyterian Church,
“one of the architecturally most distinguished and historically most important of Manhattan’s surviving Nineteenth century churches.”
Barry Bergdoll, architectural historian, March 2004
Earlier this week, as workers removed debris from the interior of West-Park Presbyterian Church (W. 86th Street & Amsterdam Avenue), many of you responded to the call for letters/emails/phone calls to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, urging swift action to protect one of New York’s most beautiful and significant religious structures.
Keep those letters/emails/phone calls coming (see contact info. and sample letters below)!
Evidently startled by the impassioned community response, church leaders were quick to explain that the apparent demo work was clean-up after a burst pipe. Yet, the pall of demolition—whether by intent or neglect matters little—continues to hang over this beloved neighborhood landmark.
Until West-Park is an official Landmark (with a capital L)—or at least gets the public hearing it deserves—rumors about its future will continue to fly. Church leaders have made it clear that they intend to redevelop the site and demolish at least part of the historic building. Landmark designation doesn’t necessarily preclude that possibility. What a landmarks hearing does is offer a baseline promise that the magnificent exterior will be preserved for future generations.
Beyond any reasonable doubt, and as attested by the statements of New York’s most prominent architectural historians, West-Park is worthy of designation as a New York City Individual Landmark (click HERE to read copies of some recent statements—requests for West-Park to be heard date back more than two decades!). The site was determined eligible for the State and National Registers of Historic Places in 2001.
Contact the LPC today and urge them to act immediately to calendar West-Park Presbyterian for a public hearing.
Hon. Robert B. Tierney, Chair
New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
1 Centre Street, 9th Floor
New York, New York 10007
Phone: 212-669-7888
Fax: 212-669-7955
Email: comments@lpc.nyc.gov
Also contact the City Council member who represents the West-Park neighborhood:
Hon. Gale A. Brewer
NYC Council Member
563 Columbus Avenue
New York, NY 10024
Phone: 212-873-0282
Fax: 212-873-0279
Email: brewer@council.nyc.ny.us
YOU can make the difference. Please help save this landmark!
