PRESERVING YOUR HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD
Building Surveys & Research

More and more, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission looks towards the community for help with the research and documentation of proposed historic districts. Any community interested in gaining designation as a New York City historic district should therefore perform both surveys of the existing conditions and building research in their neighborhood as part of their advocacy work..

Spreading out the survey and documentation work among a number of volunteers will help get the work down quickly. Moreover, by involving your fellow community members in the work, you will help build their pride in the neighborhood. Some groups are financially able to hire a professional preservationist or historian to help them research and develop their neighborhood’s history. A professional will have more time to dedicate to the project and can more easily navigate his/her way through the sometimes daunting city records.

Sample Building Survey & Research Form
HDC has provided a sample survey and research form that should be amended to fit your neighborhood’s design and needs. The form can be opened by Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free program available at www.adobe.com.

What to look for….
An ideal set of research would include building histories, a narrative of the development and growth of the area, and the important people and companies that made their mark on the district in the past and in the present. The history and character of the neighborhood adds up to a story, supported by the individual building histories uncovered during the documentation and research process. This is the detective work that supports the importance of your neighborhood. It is important to note bibliographical information for each piece of research uncovered in your endeavor.

BUILDING SURVEY
The building survey is a preliminary inventory and study of the buildings and structures in the proposed historic district. The first step in the inventory is to obtain a copy of the current city land map that includes the blocks within your area. You can find such maps at the Municipal Archives (31 Chambers Street, Manhattan, 212-788-8577) or the New York Public Library Map Division (Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, Manhattan, 212-930-0830).

Make a complete listing of each property with street address and corresponding block and lot number. A helpful aid is to create a survey sheet for each site that can be filled out as you progress and placed in a binder for future reference. The information can also be set up in a computer database. For convenience, make sure you take the survey sheets with you in the field to record information as you walk down the street.

Each survey should be geared towards the needs and characteristics of your neighborhood. Information that should be recorded includes: the number of stories for each building, building materials, building conditions, and obvious alterations that might have an impact on the historic integrity of the proposed district. This could include single-pane replacement windows, missing cornice, or reconfiguration of the main entrance.

As you survey the streets to be included in your proposed historic district, take a color photograph of each building and property. After the pictures have been processed, whether done with a digital or 35mm camera, match the shots up with the corresponding address and survey sheet. Make sure to label each picture in order to prevent future confusion.

Outreaching to the building owners is important. Many times the owners are not easy to contact. If you have the block and lot numbers for a property, you can find basic owner information on the New York City Department of Finance ACRIS Web site.

BUILDING RESEARCH
Once the basic information that can be collected by a visual assessment from the street has been obtained, the next step in the process is to research each property. Information, such as the name of the architect, builder, building owners, date the building was constructed, and any significant alterations done, should be found for each building.

Availability and location of research materials vary from borough to borough.

Manhattan Building Research:
For buildings that were built after 1866, key information on the building’s date, architect, builder, and original use can be found on the building’s New York City Department of Buildings New Building Application. For construction after the New Building Application process was in place, a New Building (NB) number and application form was assigned to each building. The NB number is set up so that NB 174-12 is New Building Application number 174 in 1912. New Building Applications are located in the Individual Property Folders.

The New York City Municipal Archives (31 Chambers Street, Manhattan) holds archives of the Department of Building files for Manhattan blocks 1 – 936. As the Municipal Archives office is much easier to navigate than the Department of Buildings, HDC strongly recommends looking at the Individual Property files at their office if your district falls within blocks 1 – 936. Call the Municipal Archives (212-788-8577) to arrange a visit, as an appointment is needed to view the files.

If your district contains blocks numbered 937 or higher, you will have to research the Individual Property files at the Department of Buildings. A computer printout of the Property Profile or building application index from a public access terminal at the borough Department of Buildings will provide you with a list of actions at that property, including the New Building number and major alterations. This information is also available on the Department of Buildings Web site now at through their Building Information System. You can search by street address or block and lot number.

Other Boroughs
Check back for information on doing research in the other boroughs.

Historic Photographs
Historic photographs go a long way in showing the development of the neighborhood and how a building has changed over time. The New-York Historic Society, the Brooklyn Historical Society, the Museum of the City of New York, the Municipal Archives, the New York Public Library, and the Brooklyn Public Library all have extensive collections of historic photographs.

One of the most valuable historic photo resources is the Municipal Archives’ Tax Photo collection. Between 1936 and 1941, New York City through a WPA program photographed every single building in the five boroughs of city. These photographs can been viewed on microfilm at the Municipal Archives and prints can be ordered through their office.

Additional Research
Once you have the building date and name of the architect, you might want to do additional research on those buildings that appear most interesting. The New-York Historical Society and the New York Public Library have a range of material helpful to the researcher. The city directories, the precursor to the phone book, list occupation, home address, and business name and address, for example. Early maps can help date building development in an area, give names of prominent businesses, and point to an approximate building date when no NB# is available. Listings and biographies on architects can also provide interesting information. Use the Internet to research company names. Some of the companies doing business 100 years ago in New York are still in business today and can be located via the Internet.

Final Reminder
Before going to any of the city agencies, museums, or libraries, be sure to telephone ahead to verify business hours and equipment availability. Many of these places require two forms of identification. Also, don’t forget to bring change for fees and copy costs.

IMPORTANT ADDRESSES

Brooklyn Historical Society
128 Pierrepont Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-222-4111

Brooklyn Public Library
Grand Army Plaza
Brooklyn, NY 11238
(718) 230-2100

Municipal Archives
31 Chambers Street, Suite 103
New York, NY 10007
212-788-8577

Museum of the City of New York
1220 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10029
212-534-1672

New-York Historical Society
2 West 77th Street
New York, NY 10024
212-873-3400

New York Public Library
Humanities and Social Sciences Library
Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street
New York, NY 10018
212-930-0830

Department of Buildings
280 Broadway
New York, NY 10007
212-566-5000

IMPORTANT WEBSITES

Department of Buildings
The Department of Buildings Web site hosts their Building Information System (BIS) that is a great initial resource for those looking to determine the block and lot for a specific address and the list of building applications that have been made at the Department of Buildings for any given property.

Department of Finance
(Under the Real Estate Tax menu, go to the Bill/Payment History option)
The Department of Finance Web site provides a wealth of information about the current status of the building, including the current owner, the size of the lot and the building, and the current assessed value for the building.

New York Public Library Picture Collection Online
The New York Public Library has recently posted digital images of picture collection. This can be a great source for historic streetscapes of your neighborhood.