E-BULLETIN OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS COUNCIL

November 2007, Volume 4 Number 11

Continuing Down the Designation Path – Sunnyside Gardens, Fiske Terrace-Midwood Park and DUMBO

Tuesday, October 9th at 11:00 the Landmarks, Public Siting & Maritime Uses Subcommittee will hold a public hearing on the Sunnyside Gardens Historic District at City Hall. This will be the last chance for public testimony, so come show your support for this hard-fought historic district and continue to send those letters of support to City Council Members. Sunnyside Gardens Councilmember Eric Gioia has publicly issued his support of the district and that, combined with the diligent work that Sunnyside Gardens Preservation Alliance has done in reaching out to the Council, will hopefully bear fruit with the Subcommittee (and subsequently, the full Council). Still, more races are lost in the final stretch than not, so continue your strong support and please come to the hearing if you can.

Fiske Terrace-Midwood Park, calendared in September of 2006, will have its long-awaited public hearing on Tuesday, October 16th. The proposed district in Flatbush, Brooklyn is composed of approximately 250 predominantly free-standing single-family homes built during the first two decades of the twentieth century mainly in the Colonial Revival and Shingle Styles. Your support of this very meritorious neighborhood is appreciated. If you cannot attend the hearing, send a message to LPC Chair Robert Tierney. The time is 9:30 am but keep an eye on LPC’s website for updates to the calendar.

LPC is moving faster with the proposed DUMBO Historic Districts Council. Calendared in July, the public hearing for this significant piece of the city’s industrial heritage will be on Tuesday, October 30th. As you well know, Brooklyn’s industrial waterfront is gravely endangered, so please plan to attend the hearing or send a message to LPC Chair Robert Tierney. We don’t yet know the time, but watch for the calendar on LPC’s website.

October 30th at LPC is dedicated to designations – it will be interesting to see what else might be calendared, heard or designated that day.

City Council Looks to Tighten Land Use Controls

In the next few weeks, two Council members are hoping to introduce bills to tighten land-use controls and help protect historic buildings and neighborhoods from insensitive development. Spurred by the illogical predicament of PS 64 – where a designated landmark building is still under threat of damaging pre-approved façade work, Councilmember Rosie Mendez introduced a bill (int. 542) earlier this year which would close a dangerous loophole by allowing the City to revoke alteration and other building permits which were approved for a landmark building before it was designated. For the full text of the bill, see here. The bill is currently supported by 22 council members and is scheduled for a hearing before the Landmarks Subcommittee on October 23rd. HDC has been working closely with CM Mendez on this effort and we’ll let you know soon about how you can help.

On Sunday, October 21st at 2pm, Councilmember Tony Avella will be holding a press conference with HDC and the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation to call for community facilities zoning reform. Under current zoning regulations, community facilities such as health care, educational and non-profit institutions are often eligible for vast increases to the allowable height and bulk of new construction, while at the same time being exempted from parking and other requirements. While doctor’s offices and schools are integral parts of New York City neighborhoods, all too often these incentives end up transforming charitable institutions into neighborhood-busting developers by permitting enormous new construction without any community input.

CM Avella previously sponsored changes to the Zoning Resolution to remove some of the “as of right” abilities of community facilities in low-density districts and now he’s proposing to bring the same attention to the rest of the city. Join HDC and GVSHP at 2pm on Sunday, October 21st at the corner of West 3rd Street and Sullivan Street (across from the new NYU Law School Building, built on the site of the Poe House) to call for this important reform.

HDC’s 19th Annual Landmarks Lion Award Honors Lisa Ackerman

On October 24th HDC will present its Landmarks Lion Award to Lisa Ackerman, Executive Vice President of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation. The reception, dinner and award ceremony will take place at the Prince George Ballroom in the Madison Square North Historic District.

At the Kress Foundation, Ms. Ackerman has helped fund numerous preservation projects in the city and beyond. In addition to her work at the Foundation, she has devoted her time and energy to countless causes including the New York Preservation Archive Project, Historic House Trust of New York City, US/ICOMOS and the Neighborhood Preservation Center, home to HDC and several other preservation groups. This fall, after 25 years with the foundation, Lisa will be pursuing preservation activities on an international stage as executive vice president and chief operating officer at World Monuments Fund.

Benefit Committee listing for the Lion event begins at $500 and individual tickets are available for $300. For tickets, more information or to place a congratulatory ad in the program, please contact Frampton Tolbert at ftolbert@hdc.org or 212-614-9107 x 13.

NEW! HDC’s Frequently Asked Questions

Confused about the New York City landmarks process? Unsure of how landmark designation can protect your neighborhood? Check out HDC’s newest publication, a user-friendly, easy to read pamphlet tackling the most frequently asked questions about the landmarks process. Glimpse through it yourself and share it with friends, fellow neighbors, community board members and elected officials to dispel myths and help shed some light on the preservation process. Email hdc@hdc.org to request a hard copy.

On the Town in New York a Success!

Thanks to everyone who joined us for this year’s fall series, “On the Town in New York.” Click here to view selected photographs from each of our fall events. Both lectures at the SoHo Playhouse drew huge crowds and accolades from Time Out New York! The Sunday tours of the Theater District sold out almost immediately and those who signed up early were rewarded by entry into the interiors of some of Broadway’s landmark theaters. Special thanks to all of our tour guides, panelists and moderators for generously sharing their expertise. And to all those who attended, we look forward to seeing you again in 2008!

Miss this year’s fun? Become a Friend of HDC and ensure that you receive the most timely, up to date information on our future programs and events.

Become a Friend of HDC

Friends of HDC provide critical support for HDC’s advocacy, education and outreach initiatives. To join us as a Friend or to learn more please visit our website here. Thank you for your support.

To unsubscribe from the email list please email hdc@hdc.org and write "Unsubscribe" in the subject heading. We’ll miss you!