On October 22nd, the Commission voted unanimously to designate the Jacob Day Residence at 50 West 13th Street in Greenwich Village as an individual landmark. The Greek Revival-style brick row house was built around 1845, and owned and used from 1857-1884 as a residence and place of business by Jacob Day, a prominent Black caterer, property owner, and abolitionist who later became a leading advocate for voting rights and economic opportunities for the Black community. Click here to learn more about NYC's newest individual landmark, the Jacob Day Residence.
Celebrating Black Excellence at Gracie Mansion
(L-R): LPC Chair Sarah Carroll, DCLA Commissioner Laurie Cumbo, NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue
On November 18th, LPC Chair Sarah Carroll joined Mayor Eric Adams and fellow Gracie Mansion Conservatory Board of Directors including Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) Commissioner Laurie Cumbo, NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue, and Mayoral Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack for the annual Gracie Mansion Conservatory Benefit. This year's gala celebrated Black Excellence, with honorees Darren Walker, Marc Morial, and Michelle Miller receiving a Key to the City, and the evening's presenters spoke movingly of the transformational power of Black leadership across the generations, telling stories of personal impact and pledging to work to continue to uplift the next generation of Black leadership.
On October 12th, LPC joined the Sunnyside Gardens Preservation Alliance, New York State Senator Michael Gianaris, New York City Council member Julie Won, and Claire Valdez for a walking tour celebrating the 100th birthday of Colonial Court, the first section of Sunnyside Gardens completed by the City Housing Corporation in 1924.
Expanding Opportunities for Minority and Women-Owned Businesses
(L-R): Akeem Bashiru, LPC Director of Financial Management; Stephanie Yang, LPC Director of Human Resources Management and Operations
On November 11th, LPC joined the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) and other city agencies for the 2024 NYC Procurement Fair to connect with small businesses citywide, sharing opportunities and resources with the more than 1,600 minority and women-owned businesses (M/WBE) that attended.
Connecting with Landmark Property Owners in the Bronx
On December 17th, the Commission voted to calendar the (Former) Whitney Museum of American Art, designed by Marcel Breuer and Associates and located at 945 Madison Avenue in Manhattan, for consideration as both an individual and interior landmark. On the exterior, the monumental building is a Brutalist-style inverted stepped pyramid clad in granite and raw concrete, while the interior features open floor plans, distinctive overhead lights, and interconnected public spaces that together create an enduring emblem of modern urban architecture.
Calendaring is the first step in the designation process. Once dates have been set for the next public hearings/meetings for these proposed landmark, the information will be posted on the hearings page of LPC's website.
This administration is working every day to create a more affordable New York City. Here at LPC, one important way we're helping build a more affordable city is through our Historic Preservation Grant Program (HPGP), which offers grants ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 primarily for façade restoration to not-for-profit organizations and income-eligible owners of buildings located in historic districts, or which are designated individual landmarks. It's an important program for many landmark building owners considering work on their properties – and also happens to be one of the topics LPC staff discussed during the Bronx info session mentioned earlier in this newsletter. Interested in learning more? Click here to learn more about LPC's Historic Preservation Grant Program.
The Latest from City Hall
On December 5th, the New York City Council voted to pass Mayor Adams' "City of Yes for Housing Opportunity" affordable housing plan that will enable the creation of 80,000 new homes over the next 15 years and invest $5 billion towards critical infrastructure updates and housing. LPC strongly supported the plan, which will also make it easier for landmarked buildings to sell their development rights while keeping all historic preservation rules in place, allowing designated buildings to bring in urgently needed funds and create more housing for New Yorkers.
