Conservancy Celebrates 25 Years of Preserving Sacred Sites
"I think Sacred Sites is one of the best examples of historic preservation as a proactive force where preservation advocates have put there intellectual and financial capital behind something that they believe in very strongly," architectural historian Andrew Dolkart said at Central Synagogue, Jan. 26
Andrew Dolkart
From left: Ken Lustbader, Conservancy Board member the Rev. Dr. Thomas F. Pike, Edward T. Mohylowski, Ann-Isabel Friedman, Michael Rebic; Front row: Andrew Dolkart and Kim Lovejoy
From Left: Mark Weber, Ann-Isabel Friedman, Liz McTigue Taylor and Ken Lustbader
Reception at Central Synagogue
Philanthropist Joan Davidson, former head of the J.M. Kaplan Fund
The Rev. Dr. Thomas F. Pike
Peg Breen, Conservancy President
Landmarks Preservation Chair, Robert B. Tierney
Colleen Heemeyer, Manager, Grants and Technical Services
Hundreds braved the elements to join the Conservancy in celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Sacred Sites program at magnificent Central Synagogue on Jan. 26.
Special guests included Landmarks Preservation Chair, Robert B. Tierney, philanthropist Joan Davidson, former head of the J.M. Kaplan Fund, the Rev. Dr. Thomas F. Pike and architectural historian Andrew Dolkart.
State Sen. Liz Krueger and Public Advocate Bill de Blasio also attended.
Tierney spoke on behalf of Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
“The New York Landmarks Conservancy’s Sacred Sites Program works to maintain or City’s religious landmarks for future generations… On behalf of our City, I am pleased to recognize those associated with the Landmarks Conservancy’s Sacred Sites program for hosting this event and for all it has accomplished in helping to preserve the City’s treasures,” Tierney read from the Mayor’s letter. Click here to view the letter.
The Kaplan Fund provided initial funding for the Sacred Sites program in 1986 “on a wing and a prayer” Davidson said at the event.
“Sacred Sites then and now offers so much,” she said.
Rev. Pike, the recently retired rector of the Parish of St. George-Calvary in Gramercy Park, long-time member of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and Landmarks Conservancy Board member, was a founding member of the Sacred Sites committee.
“Often the preservation movement has been seen as a reactive force, diving in when a building or an area is in danger. The movement has been accused of not being proactive enough in our preservation pursuits. But, fortunately that is not always the case and I think Sacred Sites is one of the best examples of historic preservation as a proactive force where preservation advocates have put there intellectual and financial capital behind something that they believe in very strongly,” Dolkart said.
“As a result of that proactive work The Landmarks Conservancy has made an important contribution to communities all over New York State.”
Dolkart conducted the Conservancy’s original national study establishing the need for a Sacred Sites initiative, and chairs Columbia University’s Historic Preservation program.
Sacred Sites was launched in 1986 and today remains the only nonprofit statewide program in the country responding with both financial and technical assistance to the preservation needs of historic religious properties.
Sacred Sites has disbursed 1,115 grants totaling more than $6.7 million to 660 congregations of all denominations throughout New York, including 193 grants to religious institutions in the City. These grants have leveraged an astounding $497 million in restoration projects.
In addition to their universal and exalted beauty, sacred institutions provide life-saving community services such as food banks and homeless shelters and essential programs for seniors and children.
As part of the 25th anniversary year, the Landmarks Conservancy is hosting a series of activities designed to highlight the importance of preserving, protecting and celebrating the rich cultural heritage of New York’s religious institutions and the critical social services they provide their congregations and neighborhoods.
The next will be an illustrated lecture on March 21st at Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan when Dr. Samuel D. Gruber will present Restoring Splendor: The Architecture of New York Synagogues. Dr. Gruber is a world renowned architectural historian, archaeologist and historic preservationist. He teaches courses on architecture and Jewish visual culture at Syracuse University and is President of the International Survey of Jewish Monuments.
