E-BULLETIN OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS COUNCIL

June 2006, Volume 3 Number 6

HDC Summer Lecture Series

Make sure to join us for this informative series created in celebration of HDC’s recently published “Creating an Historic District: A Guide for Neighborhoods.”

Tuesday, June 6, 2006
“Heard But Not Designated” Buildings Considered by the Landmarks Preservation Commission
HDC’s Assistant Director Frampton Tolbert will discuss and review the backlog of buildings that have had designation hearings by the Landmarks Preservation Commission but have yet not been voted on, some as far back as 1966! Come to learn about these buildings and discuss strategies to help get them landmarked.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Hardship: It’s Not Just an Inconvenience
HDC board members Franny Eberhart and Katharine McCormick will discuss the issues surrounding the hardship provision included in the New York City Landmarks Law. This provision, which allows owners to plead that landmarking prevents them from earning a certain minimum return on their property has been cited frequently by developers in the current real estate climate. However, it is rarely used successfully to demolish or alter landmarked structures.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006
What’s In the Pipeline?: Recent Proposals to the Landmarks Preservation Commission
HDC’s Executive Director Simeon Bankoff will present an overview of recent community-based proposals to the LPC. This presentation will focus on district proposals and will touch on some recently proposed individual landmarks as well.

Lectures are FREE, but reservations are necessary. Reception to follow.
All events take place at 6:00pm at the Neighborhood Preservation Center, 232 East 11th Street, Manhattan. RSVP at 212-614-9107 or hdc@hdc.org

Grassroots Awards a Huge Success

Thanks to everyone who attended this year’s Preservation Party featuring the 7th
Annual Grassroots Awards. If you were not able to join us, you can click here and see what you missed!

Margery Perlmutter appointed to Landmarks Commission

As you may have read in the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/25/nyregion/25lobby.html), the Gotham Gazette (http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/searchlight/20060524/203/1869/ or the New York Sun (http://www.nysun.com/article/33517?), Margery Perlmutter’s appointment to the Landmarks Preservation Commission was approved by the City Council by a vote of 39-10. The Historic Districts Council is disappointed in the Council’s action to confirm the nomination of Margery Perlmutter to the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Although the City Council decided that Ms. Perlmutter’s qualifications and the rulings of the Conflict of Interest Board were sufficient reason to support the Mayor’s nomination, we and many of our preservation colleagues continue to feel that a more appropriate candidate who did not share her encumbrances and could have added to the diversity of the Landmarks Commission should have been proposed. HDC agrees with CM Tony Avella, who opposed the nomination and said, “We are approving the first registered lobbyist to the Landmarks Preservation Commission. You can't serve two masters." Other council members who opposed the nomination were Charles Barron, Gale Brewer, Helen Foster, Vincent Gentile, Eric Gioia, Melissa Mark Viverito, Letitia James, Annabel Palma and David Yassky. We are very appreciative of their support in taking a difficult stand on principles.

In the end, we were somewhat reassured by Ms. Perlmutter’s responses to the Committee’s vigorous and thoughtful questions and believe that her professional expertise and knowledge will add to the LPC’s important work. We also look forward to working with the Mayor and the Council on ensuring that our concerns about appointments to the Landmarks Preservation Commission are appropriately addressed. As a large majority of commissioners are serving on expired terms, we anticipate many opportunities in the future to engage our elected officials on this important matter.

Blowout Book Sale!

HDC is offering a variety of favorite preservation books at a discounted rate, just in time for graduation and Father’s Day and perfect for beach reading. Titles include, A Passion to Preserve, Flatbush: The Heart of Brooklyn and Cities Back from the Edge. For a full list of titles and ordering information please click here.

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