Turnout Overwhelmingly Supports Landmarking of Endangered Stable at 128 East 13th Street.
From Left to right: GVSHP stickers for 128 East 13th Street landmarks hearing referencing the building’s role in teaching women assembly-line work for defense industries during World War II. GVSHP Executive Director Andrew Berman and City Councilmember Rosie Mendez at the Landmarks Preservation Commission supporting designation of 128 east 13th Street.
from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation September 12, 2006 www.gvshp.org
TURNOUT OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTS LANDMARKING OF ENDANGERED STABLE at 128 EAST 13th STREET
Fighting to Save 128 East 13th Street: More than 50 people turned out at last Thursday’s emergency meeting of the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) to consider landmark designation of 128 East 13th Street. CLICK HERE for GVSHP’s testimony. Joining GVSHP in urging that the building be landmarked were City Councilmember Rosie Mendez, representatives of Borough President Stringer, State Senator Duane, Assemblymember Glick, the Municipal Art Society, the NY Landmarks Conservancy, and the Historic Districts Council, as well as dozens of neighbors and residents.
Unfortunately the owner, through a representative, indicated that he was opposed to designation and might claim hardship if the building is landmarked based upon how much he spent to purchase the building and to plan for the new development on the site (CLICK HERE for proposed building plans). Hardship procedures are a means by which property owners can attempt to reverse landmark designation of their structures, but they are rarely used and are even more rarely successful. The LPC did not vote on the proposed landmark designation, but indicated that they had a “standstill agreement” with the owner under which he would not make any changes to the building or destroy it in any way while the Commission deliberates. Additionally, any work to alter the exterior of the building would violate Department of Buildings regulations since they have no valid permits for such work, so GVSHP is continuing to ask neighbors to report any sign of any such work to 311 and GVSHP right away.
GVSHP is asking the LPC to act as soon as possible to vote to designate this building a landmark. We urge you to do the same.
HOW TO HELP:
- WRITE TO THE LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMISSION NOW urging that they vote to designate 128 East 13th Street a landmark right away, EVEN IF YOU HAVE ALREADY.
CLICK HERE for new sample letters you can use.
To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.
CLICK HERE for New York Times Story 9/3/06
CLICK HERE for image of building proposed to replace 128 East 13th Street
____________________________________________________________________________________
from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation August 25, 2006
www.gvshp.org