This seems to be a very interesting panel.

THURSDAY • JULY 17 • 6:30 PM

Civic Talk: Battles over Development

at the Museum of the City of New York, Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street

New York Civic President Henry J. Stern leads a roundtable discussion about epic development battles, including memorable fights over the Westway proposal of the 1970s and the Huntington Hartford Museum at Columbus Circle, which was designed by renowned modernist architect Edward Durrell Stone and is now being transformed into the Museum of Art and Design. The panel will include Adrian Benepe, Commissioner,  New York City Department of Parks & Recreation; Holly Hotchner, Director of the Museum of Art and Design; Alexander Garvin, city planner and President & CEO, Alex Garvin Associates; and Albert K. Butzel, attorney and former President of Friends of Hudson River Park.

Dear Fellow New Yorker,

Bloomberg acted fast after the most recent crane disaster: He held a closed-door meeting with construction industry insiders. He came out with a proposal that is a watered-down version of Jim Brennan’s proposals from 2007 and 2008. Yet nobody is standing up for the community groups who have been following DOB reform for years.

Until now.

That’s why I’m asking you to join us in promoting DOB reform and community input on the City Hall steps.

When:    Thursday June 12, Noon (Please email Raul to confirm time)

Why:    To encourage the Mayor to incorporate community concerns in construction safety

Regards,
Raul Rothblatt
Executive Director, Four Borough Neighborhood Preservation Alliance Foundation
Raul@JumbieRecords.com  / 718-857-3150

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Community support for DOB reform

In light of the Deutsche Bank building disaster and the two recent high-profile crane accidents, community activists and elected officials are coming together to demand reforms at the Department of Buildings. “Mayor Bloomberg’s recent proposals are a step in the right direction,” says Raul Rothblatt. “He is finally advocating for some of the reforms proposed last year—some of which he opposed. Now we urge him to work with community groups that have been advocating for DOB reform. Construction deaths are not limited to cranes, so it is important to address the bigger issues, and not just react to the news of the week.”

Dismayed at the steady stream of construction deaths and other accidents, dozens of these groups have been advocating for better enforcement of existing laws for years. The most pressing reforms include:

* Reinspect hazardous Stop Work Order sites. Currently, the DOB does not return to a construction site after every hazardous violation. Some offenders simply pay a fine, and the DOB does not check if the violation has been cured.

* End Self-Certification (a.k.a. “Professional Certification”). The crane disasters were not isolated events—they represent bigger problems with oversight of the construction industry. The Mayor needs to stand for safety all around New York, not just at high rise crane sites.

* Work with the community. After the most recent disaster, Bloomberg held a closed door meeting with construction industry insiders. The Mayor missed an opportunity to harness the expertise of community groups.

We cannot live in a city where everyone is afraid of every crane, bulldozer and jackhammer. This fear sometimes gets translated into a flood of 311 calls, but the City did not heed the warnings, with deadly results. Community groups can help sort out these complaints.

Make sure to join us for this informative series created to keep up up-to-date on some of HDC’s current projects and recent goings-on at LPC.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Our Latest Landmarks: Recent & Upcoming New York City Historic Districts

Join us as we present an overview of recently designated and calendared historic districts throughout New York City, as well as what’s next in the pipeline. This lecture will be augmented by a question and answer session featuring hard-working preservation activists discussing neighborhoods including DUMBO and the Eberhard Faber Pencil Company in Brooklyn; NoHo in Manhattan; and Ridgewood in Queens.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Admiral’s Row: Historic Properties and the Federal Government

Admiral’s Row, a collection of former naval officer residences located within the Brooklyn Navy Yard, is at risk of demolition thanks to the current plans of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation. Luckily, the federal government has finally acknowledged their ownership of these structures and a Section 106 Consulting Parties Process has been established to oversee the transfer of the property and proposed uses for the site. This lecture will feature HDC executive director Simeon Bankoff as he presents a brief overview of these historic buildings and the ongoing campaign to preserve them.

Lectures are free of charge, but reservations are required. Reception to follow. All events take place at 6:00pm at the Neighborhood Preservation Center, 232 East 11^th Street, Manhattan. RSVP at 212-614-9107 or kmorith@hdc.org.

The Preservation League of Staten Island invites you to attend:

The 2008 Historic Preservation Awards Luncheon
Christ Church, 76 Franklin Avenue, New Brighton
Saturday, May 3, 2008, 1:00 PM
Cost: $35 includes Awards Program and Lunch
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For 23 years the Preservation League of Staten Island has been recognizing the outstanding work of building owners and others, who value the preservation of Staten Island’s historic buildings. For 2008 the list of awardees includes seven house-owners, three stewardship awards (for exemplary maintenance), four public buildings, and two individuals. Senator Diane Savino will be recognized with a “Friend in High Places” award for her support and encouragement of historic preservation on Staten Island, while Architect David Carnivale will receive the “Marty Pearsall Award,” the League’s highest honor, for his many years of advocating for the historic built environment on Staten Island.

In addition, the following individuals and organizations will receive awards:
Edwin Calderon; Tricia Ryan; William Whelan; Leonard Librizzi and Kathy Venezia; Steve Modica; William Robertson; Robert Swickert; Susan Fowler and Victor Stanwick; Alice Diamond; and George and Patricia Bramwell; Conference House Park Visitor’s Center–New York Parks Department, Joseph Ferlazzo; Lou Caravone Building, Sea View Hospital, Community Board #2, Debra Derrico; and Colony Hall, Sea View Hospital, Angelo Mascia.

In addition to building owners, the awards honor architects, contractors and consultants who have participated in preservation. Types of preservation work recognized by the awards include restoration of historic details, such as the removal of inappropriate materials, siding restoration, installation of window and door frames, and use of historically appropriate paint colors.
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Tickets to the Preservation League of Staten Island Awards Luncheon are available on-line for $35 each at preservesi.org or by calling 718/980-1551. Write to us at info@preservestatenisland.org.
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Please join us for Hills to Harbor: The 2008 House Tour of New Brighton and Snug Harbor East on Sunday, May 18, 2008, 1 PM. Sign up at Christ Church, 76 Franklin Avenue. $25/$20 if paid before May 15th at preservesi.org.