Special Pony Edition*

Preservation Conference This Weekend!

There’s still time to register for HDC’s 11th Annual Conference: “Preserving Public Spaces; Caring for Our Shared Heritage” taking place from March 4 through 6 (this weekend!). As regular readers know, this is HDC’s annual educational blow-out; with a fun opening night reception at the NYC Police Museum (where you’ll have a chance to get your mug shot taken!), informative presentations at the New-York Historical Society and unique tours of some of New York’s most distinguished public places. Space is still available for all events but be warned, the tours fill quickly so pre-registration is strongly recommended. For more information and to register, go to http://www.hdc.org/confsched05.htm.

Historic Building Notification Bill Heard at City Council

The Historic Building Notification Bill, Intro 317, had a public hearing on February 8th before the City Council Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting and Maritime Uses. Over a dozen community groups testified in favor of the bill representing neighborhoods such as St. George/New Brighton, Flushing, Greenwich Village, the Upper East Side and Harlem. The Council members present also spoke favorably of the bill and – while there are some implementation concerns, as there are with most new legislation – there is definite momentum gathering for this bill, as evidenced by a recent editorial in the Staten Island Advance [http://www.silive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news/1108650704191180.xml]. Over 50 locally-based neighborhood preservation organizations have signed on as supporters of the bill so far (if you would like to lend your group’s name, email us at hdc@hdc.org). Now what happens? Now we continue to push forward on this effort and get another hearing at City Council. HDC will continue working with legislators and administration staff to iron out the implementation details of the bill. And – not to give too much away – next week we hope to be unveiling an exciting new (and very easy) way that you, our constant and faithful readers, can help us with this effort. Stay tuned and thanks for all your support!

And more….

There’s just a bushel of stuff going on – from the current proposal to demolish the unprotected historic interiors of the Plaza Hotel to the upcoming 40th Anniversary of the New York City Landmarks Law and the 15th Annual Preservation Party in May. We’ll be breaking with our usual schedule and offer a more comprehensive edition of the bulletin next week after the conference.

(*a term from the 1940s that referred to free and shortened versions of Time, The New Yorker and other magazines)