On April 8th, Mayor Mamdani announced the nomination of Lisa Kersavage, Executive Director of LPC to serve as Chair of the Commission. With more than two decades of experience working at the intersection of historic preservation, urban planning and sustainability, she is widely recognized for her leadership in the field. At LPC she has advanced equity in landmark designations, improved agency performance to make city government work more efficiently and transparently, and partnered with agencies to identify preservation opportunities in areas planned for growth
The Public School 15 Annex was built in 1889 to serve Brooklyn's growing population, including its expanding immigrant community, and in the 1920s became home to the influential Girls' Continuation School, which expanded educational, economic, and social opportunities for young women, many of whom were first- and second-generation Americans.
The Church of Saint Mary is the oldest Roman Catholic church building on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Constructed in 1833, it was central to the earliest Catholics who came to New York from Ireland, and continues to be an important community institution to more recent Catholic immigrants, including many from Spanish-speaking communities who make up the majority of the parish today.
The Lithuanian Alliance Building dates to 1876-1877. Since 1910, it has served as the headquarters of the Lithuanian Alliance of America, a fraternal society established to support new immigrants, and the nation's oldest continually operating Lithuanian organization, creating an important hub for Lithuanian culture that continues to thrive today.
LPC Commissioners have reviewed and approved several notable projects over the past few months, including several that will help create new housing for New Yorkers.
138-154 St. Felix Street, in the Brooklyn Academy of Music Historic District: The Commission approved the construction of an addition and other alterations that allow for the adaptive reuse of the former church building, finding the work appropriate given the architectural massing, materiality, and sensitive design of the addition, the historic context of the district, and its adjacency to taller historic buildings. The project will enable the long-unoccupied church building to be transformed and reused for housing while maintaining the architectural and historic character of the building and the Brooklyn Academy of Music Historic District
121 East 7th Street in the East Village/Lower East Side Historic District: The First Hungarian Reformed Church converted this row house just after the turn of the 20th century, and with the Commission's recent approval, it will be returning to residential use. The Commission approved an addition and other work that will allow the building's adaptation into a multi-unit residential apartment building and community facility.
Unveiling New Historic District Markers in Central Harlem
The markers were sponsored by the New York Landmarks Preservation Foundation (NYLPF), and the reception was hosted by Friendship Baptist Church, one of many institutions in this district – including the National Headquarters for the 1963 March on Washington and the New Amsterdam Musical Association – that have fostered social justice and sustained the community, and continue to contribute to the cultural significance of the district.
Reflecting on Harlem's legacy, Mayor Mamdani noted:
"If the sidewalks and stoops of Harlem could speak, they would sing. They would tell a story of ragtime and jazz, of tenant meetings and mass marches, of block parties and hard-won victories. They would tell us that Harlem has always been more than a neighborhood; it is a movement. What rises in Harlem can't be contained by its borders — it moves, it organizes, it transforms this city and inspires the world. As we honor Black History Month, and commemorate this historic district, we affirm that Harlem is not just part of New York's story — it is its beating heart, and its conscience." - Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani.
The event brought together a great group of experts for an engaging and insightful conversation on practical approaches to stabilizing historic structures, including LPC's Deputy Counsel John Weiss; Jill Hrubecky, Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Building (DOB) Engineering Services Unit; Ian R. King Oppermann, DOB Deputy Borough Commissioner (Brooklyn); Donald Friedman, President of Old Structures Engineering; and panel moderator, Eytan Solomon, Senior Associate at TYLin (formerly Silman).
LPC in the Community
Sharing Information with Landmark Property Owners in Harlem
(Clockwise from top left) New York City Councilmember Yusef Salaam, LPC Senior Landmarks Preservationist Abbie Hurlbut, LPC Deputy Counsel John Weiss, and LPC Senior Landmarks Preservationist/Outreach and Grant Coordinator Caroline Pasion speak with attendees
On March 11th, LPC joined New York City Councilmember Yusef Salaam and the New York Landmarks Conservancy for an informational session for property owners in the Hamilton Heights and Sugar Hill Historic Districts. Co-hosted by New York City Councilmember Shaun Abreu, Councilmember Salaam, and Manhattan Community Board 9, the event brought together neighbors from all four local historic districts for presentations and conversations with LPC's Deputy Counsel John Weiss, Senior Landmarks Preservationist/Outreach and Grant Coordinator Caroline Pasion, and Senior Landmarks Preservationist Abbie Hurlbut.
Interested in having LPC host an info session in your historic district? Email info@lpc.nyc.gov for more information.
Connecting with Clergy Leaders in Brooklyn
LPC Director of Community and Intergovernmental Affairs Steven Thomson (L) and LPC Senior Preservationist James Russiello (R) Photo 2: LPC Senior Preservationist James Russiello speaks with attendees
LPC's Director of Community and Intergovernmental Affairs Steven Thomson and Senior Preservationist James Russiello joined New York City Councilmember Rita Joseph for the annual Clergy Breakfast in Brooklyn, which brought together faith leaders from across the community. Our team enjoyed sharing information and connecting with attendees, including some who had recently worked with LPC on permits for their landmark buildings.
Speaking with Students About Preservation Careers
LPC Senior Landmarks Preservationist/Outreach and Grant Coordinator Caroline Pasion
On March 27th, Senior Landmarks Preservationist/Outreach and Grant Coordinator Caroline Pasion joined representatives from our fellow city agencies at the STEM2CITY job fair. Hosted by the American Museum of Natural History (an individual and interior landmark), the event connected young people with public-sector jobs and internship opportunities.
Meeting Small Business Owners
Photo 1: LPC Director of Financial Management Akeem Bashiru meets attendees; Photo 2: LPC Procurement Officer Pam Howard speaks with a visitor to LPC's table
On January 15th, LPC Director of Financial Management Akeem Bashiru and LPC Procurement Officer Pam Howard joined with representatives from LPC's fellow agencies at the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) NYC Contracting Summit, connecting with small business owners from across the city, including Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs).
Sharing Information with Faith-Based Organizations
On April 30th, LPC will lead an online class as part of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)'s free series for faith-based organizations exploring opportunities to develop housing on their properties. LPC's class will cover topics like Transferable Development Rights (TDRs) and guide attendees through the LPC permitting process. If you're an FBO, learn more and register for LPC's April 30th online class on housing development opportunities.
