FOR RELEASE: March 2, 2022
CONTACT: Alison Greenberg, President of the Board of Directors of the Historic Districts Council
201-207-1003/[email protected]
THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS COUNCIL ANNOUNCES
HIRING OF FRAMPTON TOLBERT TO BECOME NEXT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
New York, NY: Frampton Tolbert, a New York City-based preservationist and non-profit management leader, currently serving as the Deputy Director of the Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP), has been selected as the new Executive Director of the Historic Districts Council (HDC). The Historic Districts Council, the advocate for all of New York City’s historic neighborhoods, conducted a competitive national search process to identify its new Executive Director.
Tolbert previously served as HDC’s Deputy Director from 2005 to 2014. On April 11th, he will return to lead the Historic Districts Council with his extensive experience in historic preservation advocacy and community outreach, fundraising, communications, and deep knowledge of New York City’s architectural and cultural history.
Tolbert said, “I am thrilled to return to HDC to lead the organization forward as I strongly believe that preservation is crucial to the future success of New York. I will be an advocate for all communities, working with a diverse coalition of stakeholders to preserve our irreplaceable architectural, historical, and cultural heritage in an equitable and sustainable way. Preservation needs to be part of making the city work for everyone.”
Of the hiring of Mr. Tolbert, HDC’s Board President Alison Greenberg said, “The Historic Districts Council is elated that after a very competitive search process, Frampton Tolbert will join HDC as Executive Director. He is eminently qualified, prepared and energized to lead HDC during an exciting and important time for preservation in New York City.”
Chairman Emeritus and Chair of the Search Committee, Anthony C. Wood, said, “Frampton, because of his extensive professional experience, deep dedication, and intensive involvement in preservation, is uniquely situated to build on HDC’s 50 years of accomplishments and lead the organization forward as it tackles the critical challenges facing preservation today.”
Vice President of the Board, Chris Cirillo, said: “Our city is grappling with continued population growth and development pressures, an affordability crisis, sustainability and climate change imperatives, and a reckoning with our history of racism and segregation. As the leading advocate for New York City’s historic neighborhoods, HDC must shape the debate about how we address these issues while protecting what New Yorkers cherish most about our city. I can think of no one better to lead HDC at this critical juncture than Frampton Tolbert. His thoughtful, collaborative, and inclusive vision will guide HDC’s work and help us build coalitions to advance our mission.”
Tolbert graduated with a BA in Historic Preservation from the University of Mary Washington, and previously held development and communications positions at the Brooklyn Museum and the Phillips Collection. For the past seven years, he has served as the Deputy Director of the Center for Urban Pedagogy, an award-winning, community-engaged design non-profit. Tolbert is also a past President of the Victorian Society of New York and is the Secretary for DOCOMOMO-US, the New York Tri-State Chapter.
About HDC:
The Historic Districts Council (HDC) is the advocate for all of New York City’s historic neighborhoods. Our mission is to ensure the preservation of significant historic neighborhoods, buildings, and public spaces in New York City, uphold the integrity of New York City’s Landmarks Law, and further the preservation ethic. We work directly with people who care about our city’s historic neighborhoods and buildings, and we represent a constituency of over 500 local community organizations across all five boroughs. HDC, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, provides technical and strategic support to groups and individuals to help save historic buildings. Since 1970, HDC has been a vital force helping to preserve historic neighborhoods and buildings throughout the five boroughs. HDC has been involved in the creation of almost all of the over 100 officially designated historic districts in New York City, which encompass almost 30,000 individual buildings. For more information on HDC, please visit www.hdc.org.