Merci, Citoyens!

After the tremendous success of Tuesday's Francophile fundraiser for the Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation (CECPP), we might be tempted to change at least one of the “C’s” in our long, mission-descriptive name to “Champagne” and one of the “P’s” to “Piaf!”

Thanks to all you friends and fellow citizens who joined in the fun, helping to raise close to $4,000, a king’s ransom considering that CECPP’s landmarks reform efforts—and results—are fueled almost entirely by volunteer zeal (with the worthy exception of our part-time campaign manager, Mark Caserta). Generous contributions covered all of Tuesday night’s food, drink, prizes (see below for a list of the lucky winners) and even the Piaf-style chanteuse(watch the video, above, for a sample of her performance). This means that the funds YOU raised will go directly towards our ongoing initiatives and continued success.

And let’s give a virtual round of applause for the terrific volunteers who help with every aspect of CECPP’s work, from research to errand-running to bar tending! If you’d like to find out about volunteering for CECPP, please email citizens@savelpc.org.

Finally, a very special thank you goes to the evening’s host, Olga Statz, a leader of Save St. Vincent de Paul Church. Don’t miss Olga’s moving online article about this deeply historical and culturally important site on West 23rd Street, a building that has been denied a public hearing by the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) chair and staff, without input from the other 10 commissioners.

As long as crucial flaws in the policy and procedures of the LPC continue to lead to the destruction of special places like St. Vincent de Paul—and too many other places in all five boroughs—the landmarks emergency is still on. And CECPP will keep fighting. Thanks again for your support.

Marchons!

Photos of the evening's festivities are available here.

If you weren’t able to join us last night, you can still contribute to the cause by mailing a check made payable to “CECPP” to:

Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation
c/o Neighborhood Preservation Center
232 E. 11th Street
New York, NY 10003

And the prize winners are…

Dinner for Two at Le Perigord – Françoise Bollack

Three Private French Lessons by an experienced language teacher from France – Brenda Butzel

“Paris in New York” with Tour Leader Justin Ferate – Susan Nial

“Eiffel Tower” Designer Plate & Mug w/Printed Paper Napkins Suite – Carol Clark

Designer Museum-Quality Necklace and Earrings Suite, "Sumerian Gold" – Sue Mellins

Designer Museum-Quality Earrings, "Mysteries of Ancient China" – Rena Schilsky

The makings of the night's signature cocktail, St. Germain & Champagne – Rowena Rossini-Gold

Felicitations!

REMINDER: June 30th Fundraiser!

CECPP Fundraiser

Tuesday, June 30, 2009
6:00 to 8:00 PM
*Murray Hill location provided upon RSVP*
Please call 212-380-8612 or email citizens@savelpc.org.

$35 (for one)
$50 (bring a comrade!)

Hosted by friends of the Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation

Don't miss~

- A Chanteuse performance by Elaine Rachlin, whose sultry voice evokes the soul of Edith Piaf or Billie Holiday.

- Special prize drawing-

* Dinner for Two at Le Perigord,Estimated Value $70

* Three Private French Lessons by an experienced language teacher from France. Conversation, grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, writing specific to your needs, Estimated Value $200

* “Paris in New York”- Join Tour Leader Justin Ferate and discover some of the Parisian treasures of the Upper West Side, Estimate Value $450

* “Eiffel Tower” Designer Plate & Mug w/Printed Paper Napkins Suite, Estimated Value $30

* Designer Museum-Quality Necklace and Earrings Suite, "Sumerian Gold", 22 karat gold electroplate (surgical steel posts), Estimated Value $100

* Designer Museum-Quality Earrings, "Mysteries of Ancient China", 22 karat gold electroplate (surgical steel posts), Estimated Value $40

* The makings of the night's signature cocktail, St. Germain & Champagne, Estimated Value $100

-St. Germain Cocktails (French elderflower liqueur & sparkling wine – très charmant!)

- Mixing & mingling with fellow activists, including gracious, tenacious host Olga Statz (see “Of a Childhood, a City and a Church’s ‘Douceur de Vivre’”)

Your support contributes directly to CECPP’s Landmarks Defense Fund!

To reserve your ticket (or to make a generous gift in absentia), download the remittance form (click here) and mail it, together with your check (made payable to “CECPP”) to:

Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation
c/o Neighborhood Preservation Center, 232 E. 11th Street, New York, NY 10003

CECPP June Fundraiser

Allons, Citoyens!

Champagne! Charcuterie!
Camaraderie!

Tuesday, June 30, 2009
6:00 to 8:00 PM
*Murray Hill location provided upon RSVP*
Please call 212-380-8612 or email citizens@savelpc.org.

$35 (for one)
$50 (bring a comrade!)

Hosted by friends of the Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation

Featuring…

- An elegant, private penthouse apartment, with magnificent terrace views of the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings, hovering above the Murray Hill Historic District

- Chanteuse performance in the classic style of Edith Piaf

- Special prize drawing (the growing list of prizes includes dinner for two at Le Perigord, "Paris in New York," a walking tour with expert guide Justin Ferate, historically inspired designer jewelry, "Eiffel Tower" plate/mug/napkin suite, French lessons – et plus!)

- St. Germain Cocktails (French elderflower liqueur & sparkling wine – très charmant!)

- Mixing & mingling with fellow activists, including gracious, tenacious host Olga Statz (see “Of a Childhood, a City and a Church’s ‘Douceur de Vivre’”)

You are invited to join the Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation (CECPP) for an early Bastille Day celebration, inspired by the feisty Franco-Americans leading the charge to save the Church of St. Vincent de Paul in Chelsea, a center for New York’s French-speaking community and a beacon of racial tolerance and equality for over 160 years. Despite this powerful history, glorious architecture and profound sense of place, the Landmarks Preservation Commission has refused to even hold a public hearing on St. Vincent de Paul. The church faces imminent closure by the Catholic Archdiocese.

Your support contributes directly to CECPP’s Landmarks Defense Fund!

To reserve your ticket (or to make a generous gift in absentia), download the remittance form (click here) and mail it, together with your check (made payable to “CECPP”) to:

Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation
c/o Neighborhood Preservation Center, 232 E. 11th Street, New York, NY 10003

Lobby Day!

A great crowd turned out for Preservation Lobby Day. A big thanks to Council Members Tony Avella, Jessica Lappin and Bill De Blasio for coming out and supporting the effort!

There is still a lot of work to do, though. Please, if you haven't already, sign your organization up in support of the Preservation Platform (details available here). Or, if you have signed up, reach out to your local Council Member and ask them to support it!

Photo via HDC.

Preservation Lobby Day 2009

The third annual "NYC Preservation Lobby Day" will be held Wednesday, May 6 at 11:45 a.m. at City Hall.

We are inviting a coalition of preservation and community groups to support increased funding for the LPC and to promote the following themes:

*Preservation is Sustainability- Reuse and rehabilitation of older buildings should be incorporated into the City's planning process.

*Preservation is Neighborhoods- Protecting neighborhood character is a cornerstone of the City's long-term viability.

*Preservation is an Economic Catalyst- Preservation raises property values, strengthens the city's tax base and enhances tourism. The City should support efforts to expand Federal and State historic preservation tax credits and enhance the J-51 tax abatement program for landmarked properties.

*Preservation is Historic Religious Properties- A special task force should study feasible ways to support these important structures, which anchor communities and provide needed social service programs.

*Preservation is an effective Landmarks Commission- Proper staffing levels are needed to speed LPC approval of renovations and development, which stimulate economic activity.

The full platform is available here.

If you cannot make it to lobby day, please join the Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation, Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, Historic Districts Council, Landmark West!, Municipal Art Society and the New York Landmarks Conservancy in endorsing the platform. You can email your organization's endorsement to Andrea Goldwyn (New York Landmarks Conservancy) at andreagoldyn@nylandmarks.org.

We hope to see you there!

CECPP on Facebook

Okay, it's official, CECPP has a group on Facebook, now. Click here to take a look. If you are a Facebook member, join our group!

Preservation Vision's Final Report

For the past year, an effort called Preservation Vision NYC has been engaging preservationists in a conversation about their aspirations for New York City of 2030 and the actions needed to make those hopes a reality.

In many ways, this effort was a direct response to Mayor Bloomberg's PlaNYC 2030, which failed to include landmarking or preservation in the future of our city. Without a strong, coherent vision for the future, it was feared, preservationists would not be able to effectively counter or modify PlaNYC 2030 or respond to the development pressures of the future.

The Preservation Vision NYC final report was recently released and, it appears, the participants took a long, hard, critical look at the city's landmarking system and the way that preservationists advocate on behalf of our historic buildings and districts. Some of the findings include:

1. address environmental sustainability
2. undertake serious research
3. expand incentives
4. implement more land use regulations
5. strengthen the Landmarks Law
6. contribute to community livability
7. focus messaging & branding
8. expand alliances & diversity
9. identify new sources of funding
10. enhance education

Interested in the details behind these 10 points? You can read them in the final report, which can be downloaded here.