Countdown to City Council Sub-Committee Public Hearing: 15 DAYS

The Riverside-West End Historic District Extension I continues on the path to achieving bona fide landmark status! City Council has set a date for the public hearing (Wednesday, October 3 -- more details here).  Now they need to hear from YOU.  This is it! 

Click on the map to read the LPC's designation report.

Your letter is absolutely essential to let the City Council members know just how important it is to preserve this incredible ensemble of buildings.  If they don't hear from you -- NOW -- it could cost the neighborhood its landmark protection.

DON'T WAIT, WRITE! 

Sending an email or writing a letter to your Council Member takes just moments with the help of our call to action blogpost.  Your letter is so important!  Please email or write today!

To Gale Brewer,
UWS City Council Member*:
"Thank you for your leadership on this first of three historic district extensions on West End Avenue; I'm with you!"

To other City Council Members*:  

"Please stand by the West Side's City Council Member, Gale Brewer, and affirm the Landmarks Preservation Commission's unanimous vote to designate the Riverside-West End HD Extension I."

To Christine Quinn, City Council Speaker*:
"The West Side community supports expanded landmark protection of our neighborhood -- people want preservation!"

*Please forward a copy of your letter or email to LANDMARK WEST!

TONIGHT, Community Meeting to Dicuss Threats to Landmarks; NEXT WEEK, Important Vote on West End Avenue

One week from today -- on Tuesday, June 26th -- the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) will convene to cast their first vote concerning historic district extensions proposed for the West End Avenue neighborhood. This public meeting is open to all; if your schedule allows, please attend and lend your "silent support" of this important community effort!

              WHAT:  Public meeting of the Landmarks Preservation Commission to
                           Vote on the proposed Riverside-West End Historic District Extension I
                           (W. 79th - 87th Sts. - click here for the proposed boundary map 

             WHEN:   Tuesday, June 26th, 2012 / Time To Be Determined 
                            The LPC usually issues its agenda with approximate times three
                            days in advance of the public meeting. Stay tuned for updates! 

            WHERE:  Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC)
                            1 Centre Street, 9th Floor -- Bring photo ID
                            (Click here for directions) 

                WHO:  You, your neighbors, all who support neighborhood preservation!                             Help us spread the word; let us know of others in your building or
                            on your block who are interested in learning more about this 
                            ongoing issue. Attending the public meeting is incredibly valuable,
                            but it is important to note that no public testimony will be taken.

Earlier this month, LW! looked back on the events -- starting as far back as 2010, though momentum for this issue has surely been growing since much earlier -- leading up to the first in a series of what will ultimately be three LPC votes. Click here to revisit that email. Can't make the June 26th public meeting? Write to the LPC and your local elected officials to re-enforce your support of the West End Avenue extensions and to thank them for their strong support to date.

** Before the Vote, Community Meeting to
 support the Landmarks Law**

As LW! and our colleagues in preservation have reported, landmarking -- not just on West End Avenue but throughout all five boroughs -- has recently been under attack. The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) is at the helm of a coalition that would have New Yorkers believe that landmark designation is "over-reaching" and will effectively freeze the city in amber. This "look but don't touch" mentality could not be further from the truth: the number of landmark-protected buildings on the Upper West Side and beyond continues to grow because people want preservation. Individual Landmarks and buildings within historic districts offer substantial opportunities for economic development, the revitalization of neighborhoods, the stabilization of property values, and the enhancement of the tourism industry.

JOIN WITH US TONIGHT as we participate in a community meeting, hosted by the Historic Districts Council, to discuss this attack on landmarks and how each of us can lend our support.

TONIGHT (Tuesday, June 19th) at 6PM

General Society for Mechanics & Tradesmen*

20 West 44th Street

RSVP to hdc@hdc.org

Stay tuned for updates via email, and visit http://hdc.org/historic-district-15/help-save-the-landmarks-law to learn more.

*The General Society for Mechanics & Tradesmen (also known as the Mechanic's Institute) was the subject of an October 2011 guest blog by LW! graduate intern Kate Gilmore. Learn more about this fascinating organization and handsome Lamb & Rich-designed architecture.

At West-Park Church, the Heat is On!

West-Park Presbyterian Church*

As temperatures on the West Side begin to drop low, low, low, the heat at landmarked West-Park Presbyterian Church is going up, up, up!!

LW! learned some BIG NEWS this morning, courtesy of our friends at the West End Preservation Society (WEPS): the beleaguered boiler at West-Park has been replaced and the church's heat is ON!  

From WEPS ...

Last night ... WEPS met and chatted with Rev. Dr. Jane S. Galloway, who preaches at West-Park Church. "Last Sunday, I couldn't figure out what was different, and then I  realized: I wasn't cold!" She praised the new boiler and the efforts of Council Member Gale Brewer, whose dogged determination generated the means and money to get the boiler functioning in the only-recently Landmarked  Building.  Gale's newsletter makes the  announcement, but just in case you missed it, here's the good news: "West  Park Presbyterian Church, 165 West 86 Street, has a working “green” boiler and has heat! Much thanks to West Siders, preservation groups, and Community Board 7 as well as the Dept. of Buildings and ConEd for expediting their inspection schedules. Now we can work toward getting the roof repaired and the scaffolding removed." Thanks  to the New York Landmarks Conservancy for being point-man on the money collection  and in its advocacy for the building. And thank you, Gale, for your tireless efforts in behalf of the well-being, warmth, and preservation of the best of the Upper West Side. 

The interior of West-Park, as seen during the December 2010 volunteer clean up,
organized by Preservation Alumni, West-Park, LW!, Friends of West-Park, and many more.

Together, we -- the community -- have done it!  To all of our friends and neighbors who responded to LW!'s October 2011 call for donations, THANK YOU!  Every penny counts ... and 250,000 pennies (that's $2,500!) made a real difference in helping the West-Park congregation and leadership to meet its fundraising goal.

West-Park has already been host to an amazing collection of public programs.  With the heat now on, we're eager to see the events continue!  For more on upcoming events, stay tuned to our blog (follow the "West-Park" label!) and the calendar for The Centre at West-Park. 

READ MORE: "West-Park Presbyterian Church's New Boiler Boosts Temps, Spirits" by DNA Info's Leslie Albrecht 

* West-Park Presbyterian Church is located on Amsterdam Avenue at West 86th Street.  Architect Leopold Eidlitz designed the original chapel in 1884, followed by architect Henry F. Kilburn's church addition in 1890.

Things are Warming Up at West-Park Presbyterian Church

West-Park Presbyterian Church
165 West 86th Street

Since its induction into the West Side landmark family in 2010, the community has filled West-Park Presbyterian Church with helping hands; we've seen it filled with intrigue and theatrical flair and with heavenly voices and inspirational instruments.  Now, let's fill West-Park with one of the basic essentials: heat!

Join the leadership and congregation of West-Park, Council Member Gale Brewer, members of the city-wide preservation community, and neighbors and supporters of West-Park next Thursday, November 10th, from 6-8PM for a fundraiser to benefit the church's boiler repair/replacement fund. 

Repairing or replacing the existing boiler is a major priority since, without heat, the congregation will be unable to use the church this winter, stalling efforts to revitalize the building.  Attend this upcoming fundraiser to contribute to this project and to hear updates as to "next steps" in the ongoing rejuvenation of this captivating red sandstone landmark.

              WHAT : Fundraiser to benefit 

                           West-Park Presbyterian Church
             WHEN : Thursday, Nov. 10th, 6-8PM

           WHERE : The Belnord Apartments

                           225 West 86th Street
                                 RSVP required; please email semplelisa@aol.com

Community Members Help LW! Meet the Challenge!
In the month of October, the congregation at West-Park received a challenge grant that would match up to $25,000 of monies raised toward the much needed repair/replacement of the church's insufficient boiler.  LW! reached out to its network of West-Park supporters and neighbors to inspire them to make a modest contribution -- $100, $50, whatever worked for each individual or family! -- and help toward the church's $25,000 goal.  We set forth a challenge: to raise $2,500 towards the total $25,000 needed.  In less than two weeks ... done!

The New York Landmarks Conservancy, who is administering the boiler fund, reported that indeed, the $25,000 goal was met (a total of $50,000 with matching funds).  The boiler project is estimated at $84,000 total -- help us go the distance.  Attend the November 10th fundraiser; be a part of the renewal of this community resource!

Preserving West-Park: Looking back to move forward
A 20-year community effort was thankfully rewarded on May 12, 2010, when the New York City Council affirmed the designation of the West-Park Presbyterian Church as a NYC Individual Landmark (click here to read the designation report).  The victory kickstarted a new chapter in the life of West-Park. 

Here's just a snapshot at some of the recent activity of LW!, the West-Park congregants, our local elected officials, and preservation colleagues, including the New York Landmarks Conservancy, Friends of West-Park, and Preservation Alumni:  

• Long-time West-Park congregant and West Sider Jim Wadsworth secured a generous $5,000 donation from the Lois G. Roy Dickerman Fund as seed money towards replacing West-Park's failing boiler.  "The boiler must be in place in order to secure the development partners and renters necessary to fulfill our emerging business plan," Rev. Brashear shared.  The Dickerman Fund gift--made in honor of Mr. Wadsworth's late wife, Carol--is the first dedicated donation to the boiler project.
  
  

• City Council Member Gale Brewer organized a fundraiser to collect starter funds for bricks-and-mortar restoration of West-Park.  The fund, managed by the New York Landmarks Conservancy, was recently put to work with roof repairs to West-Park's sanctuary and chapel.  At the same time, the Conservancy spent $10,000 from a special Rockefeller Foundation grant to initiate architectural services to establish a phased exterior restoration plan.  The plan will be completed this month, with a priority to facade work that will allow the removal of the sidewalk bridge at long last.  A significant step in the long process of West-Park's physical rejuvenation!
  
  The West-Park restoration fund remains open for contributions!  Checks can be made payable to "New York Landmarks Conservancy," with "WPPC" as the memo, and mailed to:
  
                   New York Landmarks Conservancy
                   ATTN: Peg Breen, President
                   1 Whitehall Street
                   New York, NY  10004
  
  
• Members of the West-Park congregation teamed with Preservation Alumni, the alumni organization for graduates of Columbia University's Historic Preservation Masters Program, LW!, Friends of West-Park, and the generous team of Jack Pontes Brownstone Restorations for a day-long interior clean up of the church's sanctuary.  Dusting, vacuuming, buffing, scrubbing ... you name it!  Dozens of volunteers turned out to put their muscles to work for the preservation of West-Park.   
  
  

• LW! worked with architects and an electrician to upgrade the church's wiring and emergency exit lighting to help make it possible for the congregation to open its doors for public events, such as a holiday craft fair in December and this summer's Bridge Concert Series.  

The all-volunteer crew celebrates the successful clean-up of West-Park in December 2010.

Designation was only the beginning of what must continue to be a robust, sustained, community-wide effort.  Full restoration of West-Park Presbyterian Church will be a major undertaking, but we must begin with manageable goals, such as the ongoing development of a strategic plan.

See you at the fundraiser!

Ribbon Cutting Celebrates New Media Room at Amsterdam Houses

This past Tuesday morning, LW! President Arlene Simon and summer intern Ingrid joined with our local Council member Gale Brewer, leadership from Older Adults Technology Services (OATS), leaders from the New York City Housing Authority (or NYCHA), the Macquarie Group, and a host of residents and friends to celebrate a new media room at Amsterdam Houses.

Cutting the ribbon to the Amsterdam Houses media room!
For a full listing of those pictured, scroll to bottom of post.

Amsterdam Houses, a New York City Housing Authority (or NYCHA) development and LW! designation "Wish List" item, is a diverse community located between West End and Amsterdam Avenues, between West 61st and 64th Streets. 

Since 2007, Residents Association President  Margarita Curet (a 2011 LW! "Unsung Hero" award winner!), has advocated for the residents of Amsterdam Houses.  On the goal of technology access for her fellow tenants, Margarita's efforts were matched by those of local Council member Gale Brewer.  As former chair of the City Council's Committee on Technology, improved access to technology for constituents of all ages is one of Council member Brewer's core objectives.

Victor Gonzalez (center, standing) speaks to Amsterdam Houses residents eager
to learn about the features of the new media room.

The Amsterdam Houses media room is a wonderful example of public-private partnership: NYCHA donated the building space, outfitted with computers from the Macquarie Group, and OATS will provide instructional classes for residents from throughout the NYCHA developments, with priority for seniors from the local Amsterdam Houses and Amsterdam Addition.

For her third contribution to the blog (here's her second!), LW! intern Ingrid reports back on the wonderful sense of accomplishment and excitement to learn new media skills at the ribbon cutting ceremony:

Everybody at the event was so thrilled. As the President of the Amsterdam Houses Residents Association, nothing has stopped Margarita Curet from achieving the goal of getting computers set up in the Amsterdam Houses community room, so that seniors can not only learn to use them but also move forward and learn new technology.

But she couldn’t do it by herself, so Margarita got in contact with other people. After working for several months with NYCHA and local elected officials like Gale Brewer, who I met for the first time, their hard work has paid off.  Amsterdam Houses now has a computer lab, but they’re not stopping there. I hope more equipment will come for the great people at Amsterdam Houses. 

I got to meet some of the seniors that will be learning to use computers, and I think that the whole project is a great way to bring the community closer together.  After all, everybody should have a chance to connect with other people on the internet.

LW! congratulates the collaborative efforts of all who supported this project and helped it to become a reality!  And we look forward to continuing our close relationship with Margarita Curet and her Amsterdam Houses "family".  Next on the calendar: the annual Family Day celebration, on Sunday, August 3rd.  Come by and discover this spirited community and this landmark-worthy architecture for yourself (details to follow via email)!

PHOTO (from left to right): Council member Gale Brewer; Melanie Schmidt, Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center; Thomas Kamber, OATS; a representative from the Macquarie Group; Victor Gonzalez, Resident Association President of Wise Towers and NYCHA's first Resident Board Member; Doris McDonald, Vice-President of Amsterdam Houses Resident Association; Margarita Curet, President of Amsterdam Houses Resident Association.  Back row, between Doris McDonald and Margarita Curet: Clarence Gordon, Amsterdam Houses Resident Manager.

Photo credit: Office of Council member Gale Brewer.