Citizens Emergency Committee To Preserve Preservation

City Budget 2011

2010-02-03T15:04:00.006-05:00

Last week, Mayor Bloomberg released his 2011 Preliminary Budget with cuts aimed at closing a $4.9 Billion deficit.

Despite the heavy cuts, though, it appears that the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) has been largely spared, with just $51,000 in cuts proposed for FY 2001 ($4.819 proposed, down from $4,870 Million in the FY 2010 Adopted Budget). Of course, with an agency as small and busy as LPC, what's left to cut?

We'll keep our eyes on the situation over the next few weeks and update you on any changes.

New Council Landmarks Chair

2010-01-22T10:55:00.002-05:00

The Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation congratulates Council Member Bradford Lander on his new post as Chair of the Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting and Maritime Uses.

Before winning his Council seat this past November (replacing Bill DeBlasio, who is now Public Advocate), Lander was the director of the Pratt Center for Community Development.

We look forward to working with Council Member Lander to make the Landmarks Preservation Commission more Fair, Independent and Transparent.

Congratualtions are also in order to former Landmarks Chair Jessica Lappin, who is now serving as Chair of the Committee on Aging.

State of the City 2010

2010-01-20T14:45:00.003-05:00

Today, Mayor Bloomberg gave his 2010 State of the City Speech in Astoria, Queens. No real mention of preservation or landmarks but if you are interested in hearing about the Mayor's agenda for this year, you can read the whole speech here.

Lost City Looks Back at 2009

2009-12-14T15:38:00.008-05:00

The local blog Lost City recently did an excellent post on the landmarks and institutions lost this year to the current recession and our city's endless drive to develop. The article isn't completely about landmarks but it is definitely worth reading.

Check it out here here.

Happy New Year, everyone! See you in 2010!

CECPP in The New York Environmental Lawyer

2009-11-09T20:49:00.006-05:00

We recently learned that The New York Environmental Lawyer, a publication of the New York State Bar Association that focuses on sustainability, highlighted our case CECPP v Tierney back in the Spring of 2009! In an article by Susan M. Stern titled Two Recent Cases Highlight Concerns About the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission's Management of the Designation Process, the court's decision in the case was used as another example of the agency's lack of transparency. After reviewing the case and Landmarks West's efforts in the Columbus Circle case, Stern ultimately advocates for a more holistic approach:

The overall aim should be to make the pre-designation process as comprehensive as the post-designation process, with procedures for time frames and communication spelled out. Such reform should maintain LPC's discretion on designations, but give the Commission a better framework to operate with.

We couldn't agree more!

Mayoral Breakfast photos

2009-11-02T23:21:00.002-05:00

Here are some photos of Rev. Billy Talen, Green Party Candidate for Mayor, at the 3rd and final Mayoral Candidate Breakfast.

Mayoral Breakfast: Rev. Billy Talen

2009-10-14T10:41:00.002-05:00

SAVE THE DATE!

Neighbors & Colleagues!
Come hear what Green Party Candidate for Mayor Rev. Billy Talen has to say about historic preservation and neighborhood planning issues…over coffee and Danish!

Wednesday, October 21, 8:00-9:30 AM
O’Neal’s Restaurant, 49 West 64th Street (just east of Broadway)

Breakfast is only $5. RSVP by Monday, October 19.
212-496-8110 or landmarkwest@landmarkwest.org.

To reserve online, visit hdc.org/mayoralbreakfasts.htm

To find out more about Rev. Billy’s platform, visit voterevbilly.org.

On November 3, New Yorkers will decide whether to grant Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg a third term or give another candidate a chance to prove his mettle. This past summer, Candidates Tony Avella and William C. Thompson appeared before crowds of preservationists to discuss their positions (Candidate Bloomberg declined our invitation to participate).

Open House: St. Vincent de Paul

2009-09-09T11:52:00.004-05:00

Open House New York weekend is coming up again on October 10 & 11. Billed as "America's largest architecture and design event in the city," Open House New York gives access to buildings and sites of architectural and historical interest in the 5 boroughs that are normally closed to the public.

Our good friends at Save St. Vincent de Paul Church will be keeping the church open all day and giving tours on Saturday, October 10. Olga Statz, host of CECPP's French-themed fete in June, is leading efforts to convince the Landmarks Preservation Commission to hold a public hearing on St. Vincent de Paul, one of far too many sites throughout New York City overlooked for landmark protection. If you haven't had the chance to check out this important, historic building, this is your chance!

Drop by and see what's at stake...and what might be lost without key improvements to the landmarks process!

For more info on the event, go to ohny.org

Mayoral Breakfast: William Thompson

2009-08-13T20:41:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

City Comptroller WILLIAM C. THOMPSON, JR. talking about our city's landmarks and his preservation policies.

Two Council Bills With Promise

2009-08-13T19:58:00.001-05:00

For more than three years, the Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation has been working hard to bring more transparency to New York City's landmark process. We have done this through lawsuits, media and even legislation.

In fact, over the past year and half, CECPP has worked with two Council Members, specifically, to introduce two different pieces of legislation that could have a significant impact on the way that the Landmarks Preservation Commission responds to landmark applications. Below are some details of the two bills that have the most promise:

Intro. 1034-2009: Written more than 20 months ago by Council Member (and Mayoral Candidate) Tony Avella and only recently introduced, this legislation is intended to assure timely consideration by the Landmarks Preservation Commission of proposals for landmark designation made by community groups, members of the general public and elected representatives. It is intended to ensure that such nominations are presented at least once to the full Commission at a public meeting for consideration. The bill does not obligate LPC to hold public hearings, unless desired by at least 3 members, but it does assure that no good faith nomination for landmarking is disposed of in secret behind closed doors or simply falls between the cracks. A public record of Commission votes on every RFE is required. To read the full text of Intro. 1034 and to track its progress, click here.

Intro. 1020-2009: Council Member Jessica Lappin, Chair of the Landmarks, Public Siting & Maritime Uses Committee, took a strong interest in the results of our lawsuit (CECPP v Tierney). As a follow-up, CECPP worked with her to craft a simple piece of legislation that would require that every landmark application be submitted to the Commission RFE committee and acted on in a timely manner. Decisions on these applications would then be reported to the public. To read the full text of Intro. 1020 and to track its progress, click here.

We thank both Council Members Avella and Lappin for their leadership in trying to bring transparency to the Landmark Preservation Commission. Hopefully, these bills will move forward in the coming months.

As we wait for progress, we'd love to hear your feedback on the bills. Read them and let us know your thoughts!

Mayoral Breakfast: Tony Avella

2009-08-03T22:28:00.002-05:00

The first Mayoral Breakfast on Preservervation took place on July 29th at O'Neals' Restaurant.

Mayoral candidate Tony Avella shared his vision for a better planned and preserved city, while fielding questions from the packed house of landmark advocates.

To read more about Tony's policy positions, click here.

Next Up:
City Comptroller WILLIAM C. THOMPSON, JR.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 (RSVP by August 10)

Reservations:

PHONE: 212-496-8110
EMAIL: landmarkwest@landmarkwest.org
WEB: http://hdc.org/mayoralbreakfasts.htm

Photo (Right): Mayoral Candidate Tony Avella with Peg Breen

Preservation Mayoral Forums

2009-07-27T00:00:00.001-05:00

In a few short months, New Yorkers will decide whether to grant Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg a third term or give another candidate a chance to prove his mettle.

The Mayor declined a recent invitation from our coalition to discuss his position on historic preservation and neighborhood planning issues. Where do the other 2009 Mayoral Candidates stand? Ask them…over coffee and danish!

A third term? Or a new leaf? This fall, you decide.

2009 Mayoral Breakfasts
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 (RSVP by July 27)
City Council Member TONY AVELLA*

Wednesday, August 12, 2009 (RSVP by August 10)
City Comptroller WILLIAM C. THOMPSON, JR.*

Breakfast forums will be held from 8:00 to 9:30 AM at O’Neal’s Restaurant
49 West 64th Street (between Broadway and Central Park West)
Admission to each breakfast is only $5. Sign up today!

Reservations required:

PHONE: 212-496-8110
EMAIL: landmarkwest@landmarkwest.org
WEB: http://hdc.org/mayoralbreakfasts.htm

Co-sponsored by
Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, Historic Districts Council,
LANDMARK WEST!, Municipal Art Society, and The New York Landmarks Conservancy

Come hear what the candidates have to say about preservation in YOUR community before the September primary!

2009 PRESERVATION PLATFORM

Preservation is Sustainability • Preservation is Neighborhoods • Preservation is an Economic Catalyst • Preservation is Historic Religious Properties • Preservation is an Effective Landmarks Commission

Click here to read the full Preservation Platform, adopted by over 100 civic organizations in all five boroughs  (list in formation).

To read more about the candidates’ stances on preservation and development issues in New York City, please click the following links:

* Historic Districts Council -- Mayoral Candidates at Annual Preservation Conference, March 7, 2009
* Historic Districts Council -- Audio of Candidate Conference Appearance
* Our Town NY -- “The Mayor’s Race: Focus on Housing & Development (scroll to bottom)
* Atlantic Yards Report

Merci, Citoyens!

2009-07-01T20:44:00.004-05:00

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!

2009-06-22T14:02:00.002-05:00

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

2009-06-10T10:58:00.003-05:00

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!

2009-05-06T15:26:00.005-05:00

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

2009-04-23T20:16:00.005-05:00

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

2009-03-29T11:26:00.001-05:00

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

2009-03-25T09:38:00.002-05:00

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.

CECPP on MySpace

2009-03-19T08:06:00.002-05:00

The Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation is preparing for the 2009 local elections (more on that later). As part of our preparations, we have launched a MySpace page. If you have a profile on MySpace, "friend" us at myspace.com/cecpp.

Next on tap: Facebook and Twitter!

Stay tuned!

Even More From the New York Times

2008-12-08T23:33:00.004-05:00

On Saturday, December 6th, the New York Times published an editorial capping Robin Pogrebin's series on the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC). The piece quoted Judge Marilyn Shafer, in her recent decision in CECPP v Tierney, and called on Mayor Bloomberg to take her conclusions seriously and to think about how to change LPC for the better. If you missed it, it is available in its entirety, below. You can view the editorial on nytimes.com by clicking here.

For more coverage on this critical Times series and for information on CECPP's important role in Robin Pogrebin's research, see previous posts here and here.

Improving the Landmarks Process

Judge Marilyn Shafer of the New York State Supreme Court ruled last month that the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission habitually acted in a manner that was “arbitrary and capricious” and ordered the commission to conduct its business in a more timely manner. Her conclusions are welcome and frustratingly familiar to New Yorkers.

The city plans to appeal. Instead, it should reform the commission, which is all that stands between the enormous pressures for development in this city and its priceless architectural heritage.

In a recent series, The Times’s Robin Pogrebin detailed many of the commission’s dysfunctional ways, including inadequate record-keeping, protracted delays and a lack of transparency. The commission’s notable successes — creating historic districts and protecting significant buildings — have been diminished by its notable failures, including its decision to let 2 Columbus Circle be substantially rebuilt without a public hearing.

Part of the trouble is that the commission enjoys little political independence. The chairman serves at the mayor’s pleasure; the 11 unpaid commissioners see only the cases the chairman recommends. These are attributes that a pro-development mayor is not likely to want to change.

We urge Mayor Michael Bloomberg to give preservation more weight in city planning. The next landmarks chairman should come from preservation circles. The commissioners need more independence and authority. There needs to be better communication with the Buildings Department to prevent the confusion that has sometimes resulted in the destruction of a building slated for landmark consideration.

The most valuable change would be to address Judge Shafer’s concerns. Landmark decisions should be made expeditiously and transparently with a clear public record of the commission’s decision-making. The proper balance between healthy development and preservation cannot be found unless the commission plays a more vigorous and public role.

More on the Landmarks Black Hole

2008-12-01T11:49:00.003-05:00

In case you missed it, the Wednesday November 26 2008 front page of the New York Times featured an article titled "An Opaque and Lengthy Road to Landmark Status", beginning an investigative series by Robin Pogrebin. The piece examines the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) and uncovers "an overtaxed agency that has taken years to act on some proposed designations, even as soaring development pressures put historic buildings at risk."

The story marks an important turning point for the city’s preservation movement and highlighted CECPP’s recent victory in the case CECPP v. Tierney, in which the New York State Supreme Court ruled that LPC's inaction on Requests for Evaluation was "arbitrary and capricious" and ordered the agency to make timely, public decisions on designation requests. The full decision is available here

The article also featured a great photo of several of CECPP's volunteer Steering Committee Members (above, via nytimes.com)

The article offers proof positive that the NYC Landmarks Law has suffered serious setbacks under the current administration, citing examples of numerous structures that have been lost or irrevocably defaced while languishing unprotected despite, in some cases, years of community cries for designation.

Another important article appeared in the NY Post on Sunday, November 30: "New York on the Block" written by Julia Vitullo-Martin, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. Today, December 1, the next article in Robin Pogrebin's series appeared in the NY Times, focusing on the preservation efforts to save religious structures.

CECPP highly recommends that you read these articles if you are at all concerned about the state of New York City's landmarks and the current inner workings of the LPC. To read the first article by Robin Pogrebin, in full, click here.

Stay tuned for CECPP’s suggested strategies and actions to counter the current situation.

The "Black Hole" Landmarks Commission - 500 Ignored Requests

2008-11-10T23:04:00.009-05:00

View Larger Map

As part of the Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation's work to bring transparency to the Landmark Preservation Commission, we recently issued a Freedom of Information Act request, seeking to determine whether Request for Evaluation (RFE's) were being considered in a fair, timely, open manner.

After reviewing hundreds of RFE files in LPC's possession, we determined that approximately 500 RFE's were either a) received but never acted on or b) reviewed by LPC staff and rejected on grounds that have not been shared with the public. The map, above, graphically depicts the location of each "ignored" RFE that was found in LPC's files. When possible, we have added a photo of the site and any information that was available.

This information became the basis of a recent New York Times editorial, in which LPC was called "a bureaucratic black hole, the place where requests for evaluation — the formal nominations of buildings or districts to be landmarked — go to get filed and forgotten." The full editorial is available here.

If you know of any RFE sites which have not been included in this map, or if you have photos or information that has not been included, please leave a comment, below, or email us at citizens@savelpc.org. You can click on the map above to enlarge it and make it searchable.

So, how did we obtain this information? Read the details below:
-----------------
A Lesson in Civics

This is how CECPP volunteers put together the comprehensive list of over-age RFEs (Request for Evaluation) for proposed landmark sites that have never been reviewed or acted on by the full Landmarks Preservation Commission.

1. CECPP sent a Freedom of Information Act request letter to the Landmarks Preservation Commission for inspection and copying of all RFEs more than five years old not submitted for full Commission review.

2. After approximately three months we were told by the LPC's legal counsel that the files were ready for inspection at the Municipal Building.

A group of five volunteers went to a conference room at the LPC, where boxes of RFE files were made available. The boxes were assigned to individual volunteers who made handwritten lists of every RFE, noting the address, date of RFE submission, and name of proposer.

3. Where there was information of importance on papers in the file, the volunteers marked them with post-it notes for copying -- these usually included the RFE, detailed letters from the proposer (especially if a public official), and any rejection of the RFE at the staff level.

4. After review was completed, volunteers requested (and paid for) copies of the marked documents. From these we selected the representative group of RFEs for our first mandamus action seeking a court order to compel presentation to the full LPC for decision at a public meeting.

5. After reviewing the initial group of RFE files, a second FOIA request was submitted covering RFEs from two to five years old. The inspection and copying process was repeated.

6. All of this information was then entered on a spreadsheet by two very capable student interns. This resulted in a solid database of all RFEs more than two years old never acted on by the full Commission -- a total of several hundred.

Historic Districts Council Executive Director Simeon Bankoff helped refine the list by identifying some RFE’s that were missing from the LPC files, had been acted on, or had been demolished while in limbo. HDC is working on creating a citywide database of submitted RFE’s.

This volunteer work so far has produced: one lawsuit; one NYTimes editorial; contacts with various public officials who submitted RFEs; preparation of a digital map; initiation of a public education program; and preparation for additional court litigation, if required. Our goal is to make the designation process at the Landmarks Preservation Commission "transparent," and have the Commission and its staff act responsibly and in timely fashion to carry out their responsibilities to the citizens of New York.

More on Term Limits

2008-10-22T21:14:00.000-05:00

On Friday, October 17, the New York Times published an editorial titled The Missing Landmarks Commission, which documented the lack of transparency and openness at LPC.

Much of the piece focused on 2 Columbus Circle, the story of which served as a perfect example of what's wrong with LPC in the 21st Century. According to the Times:

Despite a public debate over the fate of Stone’s building, the Landmarks Preservation Commission never held a public hearing. The commission’s chair — with the encouragement of the Bloomberg administration — had the matter shelved. In June 2005, the city issued a permit to destroy the old facade and rework the building.

The piece went on further to say:

The Landmarks Preservation Commission should be a vital part of the planning process in New York City. Instead, it has become a bureaucratic black hole, the place where requests for evaluation — the formal nominations of buildings or districts to be landmarked — go to get filed and forgotten.

We couldn't agree more. With the future of New York City's term limits law being debated at City Hall, issues like reforming the LPC are getting lost. Whether Mayor Bloomberg is granted an opportunity to win a third term, we must all fight to make sure that the next LPC is an agency we can all be proud of.

To read the full editorial, click here.

Term Limits and NYC Landmarks

2008-10-19T21:36:00.000-05:00

As the Presidential race dominates national and local news, many have missed the movement underway at City Hall to change the city's term limits law, to allow the Mayor and City Council to run for a third term in office, rather than leaving office at the end of 2009. Driven by Mayor Bloomberg's desire to serve for four more years (despite his earlier support for the current law) a new term limit expansion law may pass the City Council within the next few weeks.

The Citizens Emergency Committee to Preserve Preservation is concerned about the effect that this law change may have on our city's landmarks and the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Over the past two years, we have expressed our concerns about the lack of Fairness, Independence and Resources at LPC. A third term by Mayor Bloomberg could spell more of the same.

When we started CECPP, we had expected to ramp up our efforts in 2009, as many Council Members and the Mayor were schedule to leave office and new candidates were to run in their place. We believed that this election would give the landmarks community an opportunity to advocate for reform and to move landmark issues to a higher priority position in the next administration.

Should the term limits laws be changed, however, we are determined to bring our concerns directly to the voters, Mayor Bloomberg, returning City Council Members and new candidates, alike. We would love to hear your comments and thoughts as the landmarks community gears-up for a strong campaign in 2009. You can share your thoughts by clicking on the 'Comment' link, below, or emailing us at citizens@savelpc.org.

We look forward to working with you in the coming months!