Kudos to LPC and WEPS On Proposed Historic District
The Landmarks Preservation Commission voted on November 16 to calendar a large historic district extension on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The vote capped a four year push by the West End Preservation Society (WEPS) to landmark the entire length of West End Avenue. The LPC not only moved to add the remaining, non-landmarked, sections of West End Avenue but many of the area’s lovely side streets as well. All told, some 745 buildings, including row houses, French flats, large apartment buildings, mansions, apartment hotels, schools and religious building constructed between the late 1880’s and late 1920’s were calendared.
Calendaring is the first official step in the City’s landmarking process. The LPC must hold a public hearing and vote before an area is officially designated.
The Landmarks Conservancy has worked with WEPS since its inception. WEPS leaders Richard Emery and Erika Petersen built support from residents and a wide range of elected officials, including Councilmember Gale Brewer, Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. They also commissioned a detailed study of West End Avenue’s architecture and history from architectural historian Andrew Dolkart which was submitted to the LPC.
Threats to two groups of townhouses spurred WEPS into action. Two of the townhouses, near West 96th Street, were demolished prior to calendaring.
Sections of West End Avenue lie within smaller historic districts. LPC proposes extentions to the current West End-Collegiate Historic District and two separate Riverside-West End Historic Districts. (see map) Dolkart’’s study found no difference between buildings in or out of these districts. He argued that the Avenue presented a cohesive whole.
Hearings on each of the three proposed extensions will be held separately early next year.
Click here to view LPC map of the West End Avenue Study Areas
