Tuesday, March 15, 2011

West End Avenue, Part I :: Hearing to consider historic district extensions approaches

West End Avenue, between 79th and 87th Streets, considered in the first of three public hearing
Tell your neighbors!  Tell your friends!  In less than two weeks, we tell the LPC!

On Tuesday, March 22nd, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) will hold the first of three public hearings to consider historic district extensions on West End Avenue.  Your neighborhood needs you!  Spread the word and let others know about this important hearing.     

What you need to know:

  • Attending the Public Hearing
  • Contacting Your Elected Officials
  • Report of Recent Informational Breakfast Session
  • How to Stay Informed
Attend the Tuesday, March 22nd Public Hearing

      WHEN:   Tuesday, March 22nd; Time TBD* (announced by the LPC no later than Fri., March 18th) *LW! will keep you posted!

    WHERE:   Landmarks Preservation Commission; 1 Centre Street, 9th Floor

The LPC needs to hear from you.  So first ...

Sign the petition! Add your name to the list of those who support the West End Avenue historic district extensions.  The petition will be submitted to the LPC for the upcoming March 22nd public hearing. 

Second, please plan to attend the public hearing and to share your support with the Commission.  Your support can take the form of a personal testimonial or a written statement.  Either way, your presence is incredibly important and speaks volumes, even if you choose not to speak!  Make a statement or stand as a "silent supporter" of the West End Avenue historic district extensions.   

Write to Your Elected Officials

In early 2008, the West End Preservation Society (WEPS) secured a letter supporting expanded historic district protection on West End Avenue signed by elected officials within whose districts such landmarking would occur.  Please write or call their offices, thanking them for their early backing of this important issue, and requesting their continued commitment as the public hearings begin this month.  Not sure which elected officials' districts you're in?  Check here.

State Assembly Members Linda Rosenthal and Daniel O'Donnell
City Council Members Gale Brewer, Inez Dickens and Melissa Mark-Viverito


REPORT from the FIELD: Informational Breakfast Answers Many Neighbors' Questions

To help our fellow West Siders learn more about the landmark designation process, and specifically the March 22nd public hearing of the LPC, LANDMARK WEST! co-sponsored, along with a league of neighborhood groups and preservation advocates, Living with Landmarks, a neighborly Q&A informational breakfast.  For those who couldn't make the morning session, head to our YouTube channel (video coming soon!)!   
LW! Executive Director Kate Wood welcomes the audience to the morning's discussion.
Click here for more pictures
Held this past Wednesday, March 9th, at 8AM, the breakfast kicked-off with welcome remarks from LW! Executive Director Kate Wood and Richard Emery, Esq., of WEPS.  Next, a lively and informative presentation by Prof. Mosette Broderick, Director of the Urban Design and Architecture Studies program at New York University, on the history and development of the Upper West Side.  Following Prof. Broderick, the audience of nearly 100 heard from residents of existing historic districts, to hear from them first-hand what living in a landmark neighborhood has meant.  Finally, breakfast co-sponsors came together for the Q&A portion of the morning.

Breakfast co-sponsors include:

Stay Informed and Spread the Word!

A historic district recognizing the architectural richness of West End Avenue and Riverside Drive has long been a landmark "Wish List" priority for LANDMARK WEST!  The proposed extensions would weave together five smaller, existing historic districts along West End Avenue and take in eight individual buildings that have long been on LW's "Wish List" of landmark priorities (including the First Baptist Church at 79th and Broadway and the Cliff Dwelling apartments at Riverside Drive and 96th Street).

On September 15, 2010, the LPC held a community meeting at which they revealed a draft of their "West End Avenue Study Areas" (watch video of the meeting on our YouTube page).  This was the public's first look at the area the LPC is considering for landmark designation. The new historic district extensions would include nearly 800 buildings (click here for a map of the entire area).

The proposed expansion is being considered at Public Hearing in three parts*:

West End Avenue between 79th and 87th Streets:
Public Hearing at the LPC: Tuesday, March 22

West End Avenue between 70th and 79th Streets:
Public Hearing at the LPC: Tuesday, June 28

West End Avenue between 89th and 109th Streets:
Public Hearing at the LPC: Tuesday, October 25

*All three areas are anchored by West End Avenue and extend to Riverside Drive and Broadway in most, but not all, locations.

For specific questions about owning a home or apartment in a historic district and the regulatory process, call LANDMARK WEST! at 212-496-8110.  Our sincerest thanks go to the West End Preservation Society (WEPS) for their stalwart advocacy!

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