NEWS: Bills to Aid Landmarks Process Introduced by City Council
From Gotham Gazette – http://www.gothamgazette.com/article//20060726/203/1923
by Alexander Perkins
July 26, 2006
At its most recent meeting on July 19, 2006, the New York City Council introduced 13 new bills, including legislation aimed at identifying potential historic landmarks, monitoring educational programs for the disabled, and gaining a more accurate count of the number of homeless people living on city streets.
PRESERVING LOCAL LANDMARKS
The rich history of New York can be chronicled through the various landmarks that have been preserved throughout the city. But with city’s real estate boom and developers looking for places to build and structures to renovate, historic spaces are constantly at risk. In response to the growing development pressures in the city, Councilmembers Tony Avella and Jessica Lappin introduced new bills aimed at improving the preservation process.
Intro 393 would require the City Council to publish a semi-annual list of potential landmarks. The list would be forwarded to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, which would be required to hold a public hearing on a proposed sites within 60 days and on a proposed historic district within 90 days.
According to Councilmember Avella this new bill would “mandate that there is a fair public hearing for all proposed landmarks.”
However, the council does not have the full authority to dictate such changes in policy at Landmarks Preservation Commission, and even if the bill passes, it would require a change in the city’s charter and would have to be approved by voters in a referendum in the next general election.
With a similar aim in mind, Councilmember Jessica Lappin introduced a bill, Intro 400, which seeks to establish a survey division within the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Researchers would seek out potential historic sites and make recommendations to the commission about future landmark designations.