LPC Declines Landmarking Renaissance Casino; calenders Mahattan Avenue Historic District
Went to the LPC this morning; heard the Manhattan Avenue HD get calendared (40 buildings between 104 –106th Streets, one block west of Central Park – map will probably be poste don LPC website soon). District is mostly rowhouses, built between 1885-1890 by three different architects, including C.P.H. Gilbert, in very good condition with nice details including terra-cotta and iron railings. Also included are two buildings associated with the New York Cancer Hospital (neighboring individual landmark on the park, longtime eyesore now ultra-luxury condos – we had a presentation about it in September as part of the “Sick in New York” lecture series).
The Renaissance Casino & Ballroom was de-calendared and the Landmarks Preservation Commission authorized a “no-action” letter on the properties. Chair Bob Tierney began the hearing with a prepared statement of how moved he was by Abyssinian Development Corporation’s commitment to Harlem and to architect Max Bond’s leadership on this project. He point to the broad support that the project seems to have from its public officials and the community-at-large. Taking these circumstances into account, he recommended to his fellow commissioners not to designate the building, and authorize a “no-action” letter on the properties to allow the housing development to move forward. Commissioners Joan Gerner, Tom Pike, Jan Pokorny, Stephen Byrnes and Margery Perlmutter agreed, although a number of them made statements that their support was contingent on their understanding that the North building would be appropriately restored as part of the redevelopment. Commissioner Roberta Gratz objected to the action; stating that buildings in Harlem, more than almost any other neighborhood in the city, are remarkable for their cultural as well as architectural significance and it is incorrect to cease consideration of officially preserving this significance to foster affordable housing when it has been repeatedly proven that designation and adaptive re-use can and do comfortably co-exist. The Commission voted 6-1 to decline designation and authorize a no-action letter.
Finally, although the published schedule advertised that a designation vote would be taken on the Sohmer Piano Factory and the Mt. Hebron School in Crown Heights North would be calendared, because of “mechanical difficulties” both actions were laid over to February 27 or March 6. (I did meet the Pastor of the school and he seemed amenable to the designation).
The fact they do this is merely silly and, in-fact, makes zero sense financially.