Preservation and protection of our architectural, historical, and cultural
assets is one of the most important factors in assuring that New York
remains a livable city. Preserving the best of our city's past and adapting
it for reuse in the 21st Century greatly enhances the quality of life
for all citizens. Individual landmarks and historic districts continue
to offer substantial opportunities for economic development, the revitalization
of neighborhoods, the stabilization of property values, and the enhancement
of the tourism industry.
New York's historic preservation community and other concerned community
groups urge the candidates for elected office to commit to the following
initiatives that aim to promote and protect our city's landmarks and historic
neighborhoods. A preservation ethic must be reflected in the work of all
city agencies whose work impacts the architectural, historical, and cultural
resources of our great city.
1. Commitment to tax incentives to building owners for restoration
work on historic properties.
New York City's elected officials should support the proposed State
(Part E of A2001-A and Part E of S1149-A "Historic Homeownership
Rehabilitation Tax Credit") and Federal (H.R. 1172: "Historic
Homeownership Assistance Act) tax incentive bills to encourage restoration
and reinvestment in New York City's historic properties. Tax credits
for historic rehabilitation generate localized economic activity and
community reinvestment while enhancing the special character of our
historic neighborhoods and contributing to the overall quality of life.
We further ask elected officials to consider implementing a municipal
tax incentive program to complement the programs at the State and Federal
levels.
2.Preservation of public buildings, especially historic school
buildings.
New York City must set an example for private building owners by preserving
and restoring city-owned historic properties. We especially urge the
preservation, restoration and maintenance of historic school buildings,
which should preferably remain as schools. Historic school buildings
anchor the city's neighborhoods and are often of a higher construction
quality than newer school buildings. Moreover, it is commonly more economical
to upgrade and rehabilitate historic school structures than to construct
new school facilities. New York must follow the lead of cities such
as Chicago and Baltimore in integrating the rehabilitation of historic
schools into the city's education initiatives.
3. A well-funded and independent Landmarks Preservation Commission.
Increased funding and staffing is needed to enable the Landmarks Preservation
Commission to perform its essential mission and to facilitate critical
performance improvements by enabling:
a. Timely consideration and designation of historic properties
b. Better and more efficient enforcement of the Landmarks Law
The current Landmarks Preservation Commission budget is only $3 million
( 0.008% of New York City's $38 billion budget). For the city's 1,065
individual landmarks and 77 historic districts, there are only 45 Landmarks
Preservation Commission employees.
4. Commitment to Zoning Reform that Reinforces & Complements
Historic Neighborhoods.
Zoning reform should begin with the protection of urban fabric in
livable neighborhoods throughout the city. Where appropriate, mapping
of contextual zoning around historic districts will encourage sympathetically-scaled
new buildings in the areas surrounding designated historic districts.
Contextual zoning is especially important around designated brownstone
neighborhoods throughout the boroughs where there are many blocks of
outstanding, low-scale historic buildings outside of the historic districts'
boundaries. Rezoning to match the existing built fabric within historic
districts will reinforce the strength of the district and could prevent
as-of-right "block-busters" from destroying the contextual
integrity of these landmark protected neighborhoods.
