E-BULLETIN OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS COUNCIL

April 2006, Volume 3 Number 4

Panel Discussion on Neighborhood Preservation on Staten Island: Preserving the Past, Planning the Future
Wednesday, April 26th 6:30-8:00 pm at the Staten Island Museum

HDC and the Preservation League of Staten Island will co-sponsor a panel entitled, “Preserving Your Community: Downzoning, Designation and Development.” This program will focus on borough-wide planning, landmarking and development issues effecting historic neighborhoods and buildings. Attendees will hear directly from the City agencies responsible for preserving neighborhood character, including the Department of Buildings, the Department of City Planning, and the Landmarks Preservation Commission, on how the preservation process works. Neighborhood activists from communities across Staten Island, will detail different ways of preserving community character and historic resources; from landmark designation to rezoning initiatives to public awareness campaigns. Simeon Bankoff, Executive Director of HDC, will moderate the discussion, which will be held at the Staten Island Museum at 75 Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island. This event is FREE to the public and sponsored in part by Independence Community Foundation, The New York Community Trust and the New York Department of Cultural Affairs. Contact HDC at (212) 614-9107 or hdc@hdc.org for more information.

Endangered Building of the Month: St. Savior’s Church in Maspeth, Queens

St. Savior’s Church, located on Rust Street and 57th Drive, was built in 1847. It is located on a large parcel of land that is currently undeveloped known as the Maurice Woods, named after a prominent colonial-era Queens family, who were pioneers in this area. A developer has requested and received permits for demolition of this significant church. The church and the trees surrounding it will be razed to make way for 35 to 40 3-family family houses. According to members of the community, this developer did not follow proper community notification procedures in securing these demolition permits.

St. Savior’s design is modeled after an English country church seen by the Maurice family while traveling in Europe, and was designed by renowned architect, Richard Upjohn. It is a significant part of the history and development of Maspeth. The church was organized by James Maurice and Judge David Jones, the son-in-law of DeWitt Clinton, former Mayor of the City of New York and Governor of the State of New York. Clinton also had a home on land adjacent to the church.

So many areas in Queens are under siege by developments that are not appropriate to the character of the neighborhoods for which they are proposed. So many historic buildings and open green space are being lost to this unchecked development. This church has been a significant part of the historic fabric of Maspeth for over 150 years. It is a unique retreat within the heavily industrialized landscape of Maspeth. Its demolition and replacement with scores of 3-family houses would be a tragedy for this neighborhood and New York.

The Maspeth community is fighting hard to save this site. The chairperson of Board 5's Environmental Committee, Anthony Nunziato, told the Times Newsweekly, “For 150 years, it was supported and used by the community. For 150 years, the community played, prayed, got married, socialized, and were laid to rest in this church.” He is encouraging the Community Board and residents to do everything they can to prevent this demolition.

Please take a moment to contact Mayor Bloomberg and ask him to stop this demolition. http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html Act fast because without intervention, St. Savior’s days are numbered.

City Council Oversight Hearing on Historic Districts In Queens

On Tuesday, April 4th, the City Council Subcommittee on Landmarks held an oversight hearing on potential historic district designations in Queens, in Queens! This rare change of venue from City Hall encouraged activists and concerned citizens from across Queens to passionately make their cases for landmark protection of their endangered neighborhoods. Representatives from Richmond Hill, Jamaica Estates, Old Astoria Village, Broadway Flushing, Beachside Bungalows, Waldheim, Kew Gardens, Sunnyside Gardens, Ridgewood, Parkway Village, Addisleigh Park, Rego Park, Forest Hills North and Kissena Park, as well as the Municipal Art Society, Landmark West!, the Four Borough Neighborhood Preservation Alliance, the Society for the Architecture of the City and other concerned citizens all spoke out in support for the need for more designations in Queens and for more resources for the Landmarks Commission to make these designations possible. LPC Chair Robert Tierney and his top staff attended the hearing and made a convincing case that while Manhattan possesses the largest number of landmark properties, the agency under the Bloomberg administration has been taking positive steps to remedy that. Since 2003 when Mr. Tierney was appointed, the LPC has designated 6 Historic Districts, the larger 3 being outside Manhattan. Mr. Tierney and his staff then stayed through the three hour hearing; which Council Member Melinda Katz (Chair of the Council Land Use Committee) remarked as “being the first time [she’s] seen a commissioner do that – any commissioner.”
The public’s comments ranged from measured reflections on the historical significance of a particular area to impassioned pleas for action. All agreed that there was definitely more that needed to be preserved in Queens so that New York City does not lose its history under the wave of new development that is sweeping the city. Another recurring theme was the lack of resources for the LPC to perform these designations in a timely manner. The Municipal Art Society addressed this issue directly, and cited a recent study they had done in conjunction with the Independent Budget Office that showed the changes in LPC staff and actions over time. HDC’s testimony called for the Council to legislatively aid the LPC through the adoption of proposed bills such as the Demolition Delay Bill, which has not yet been re-introduced this year. At the end of the meeting, the Council members asked the LPC to review all the requests made and promised to follow up with them.

Join us for the 16th Annual Preservation Party Featuring the 7th Annual Grassroots Preservation Awards

Every year, HDC honors a select group of individual community members, neighborhood organizations, elected officials, and members of the press for their dedication to grassroots preservation. Come celebrate with us this year and help honor these six deserving awardees.

Thursday, May 11, 2006, 6:00pm
St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery
Garden and Parish Hall
East 10th Street & Second Avenue
$25/person $15/Friends of HDC
E-mail ftolbert@hdc.org or call 212.614.9107 for more information.

The Labor Behind the Luxury: Technology and the New York Brownstone
Tuesday, April 25th, 6:00 pm at the General Society for Mechanics & Tradesmen, 20 West 44th Street

Don’t miss this lecture given by HDC friend and winner of the Lucy G. Moses award for historic preservation, Everett Ortner. Mr. Ortner has been at the forefront of the brownstone-revival movement in New York City since the 1960’s. He is the co-founder and first president of the Brownstone Revival Coalition, a citywide organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of New York City’s historic neighborhoods.

This event is FREE. For more information or to make a reservation, contact the General Society at 212.840.1840 or info@generalsociety.org or click here.

Become a Friend of the Historic Districts Council

HDC’s Friends and supporters make all our programs possible. If you’re not one already, please take this opportunity to become a Friend of HDC and receive benefits such as free events, special admission offers, access to technical and moral support and advance notice of preservation issues. Learn more about the benefits of being a Friend and join our mailing list to receive an information packet in the mail.

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The Advocate for New York City’s Historic Neighborhoods
232 East 11th Street New York NY 10003
tel: 212-614-9107 fax: 212-614-9127 email: hdc@hdc.org