New York City scenic landmarks explained

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), which administers the city's Landmarks Preservation Law, has designated twelve scenic landmarks across three New York City boroughs . The scenic landmarks include public parks, plazas, and parkways operated by the New York City government. The LPC's rules dictate that scenic-landmark status may be granted to sites with "special character or special historical or aesthetic interest or value" to New York City, New York state, or the U.S.[1] Seven of the twelve scenic landmarks were designated in the 1970s. The borough of Manhattan has the most scenic landmarks (with seven), while Brooklyn has four scenic landmarks and the Bronx has one. The first landmark to be designated was Central Park in Manhattan, while the most recent is Aqueduct Walk in the Bronx.

Background

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) is the New York City governmental commission that administers the city's Landmarks Preservation Law.[2] The commission administers four types of landmarks: individual landmarks, interior landmarks, scenic landmarks, and historic districts. Scenic landmarks are city-owned sites with "a special character or special historical or aesthetic interest or value" to New York City, New York state, or the U.S., which are also at least 30 years old., the LPC has designated 12 scenic landmarks.[3] Some landmarks are also on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), a separate program administered by the National Park Service.[4]

New York City mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr. authorized the LPC to formally designate historic structures as landmarks in April 1965,[5] and the LPC designated its first-ever official landmarks in October 1965.[6] Initially, only historic districts and the exteriors of buildings could be designated as landmarks. In 1973, mayor John Lindsay signed legislation that allowed the LPC to designate sites as scenic and interior landmarks.[7] [8]

The first scenic-landmark designation to be proposed was that of Central Park in the borough of Manhattan,[9] which was formally designated on April 16, 1974.[10] The LPC approved two additional scenic landmarks in Manhattan that year—Grand Army Plaza on July 23[11] and Bryant Park on November 12.[12] Two more scenic landmarks were added on January 28, 1975: Verdi Square on Manhattan's Upper West Side,[13] [14] along with Ocean Parkway, the first scenic landmark in Brooklyn.[15] These were followed by two additional landmarks in Brooklyn: Prospect Park became a scenic landmark on November 25, 1975,[16] followed by Eastern Parkway on August 22, 1978. Riverside Park and the adjacent Riverside Drive on Manhattan's Upper West Side were designated as a single scenic landmark on February 19, 1980.[17] After Fort Tryon Park in Washington Heights, Manhattan, was granted landmark status on September 20, 1983, no more scenic landmarks were designated for another 25 years.[18]

, three scenic landmarks have been designated in the 21st century.[19] [20] Morningside Park, straddling the Morningside Heights and Harlem neighborhoods of Manhattan, was designated a New York City landmark on July 15, 2008.[21] The LPC also named the Riegelmann Boardwalk in Coney Island, Brooklyn, as a landmark on May 15, 2018,[22] [23] after previously refusing to give landmark protection to the boardwalk.[24] On April 16, 2024, Aqueduct Walk was designated as the first official scenic landmark in the borough of the Bronx.[25] The designation of Aqueduct Walk coincided with the 50th anniversary of the LPC's first scenic landmark designation.[26] [27]

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Landmark Types and Criteria . December 22, 2019 . New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission . October 29, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201029125858/https://www1.nyc.gov/site/lpc/designations/landmark-types-criteria.page . live.
  2. Web site: January 22, 2019 . Rules of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, Title 63, Rules of the City of New York . May 28, 2020 . New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission . 2 . September 20, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200920020811/https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/lpc/downloads/pdf/Rules/Rules%20of%20the%20NYC%20Landmarks%20Preservation%20Commission_01.22.2019.pdf . live.
  3. Web site: About LPC . June 16, 2023 . New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission . August 7, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190807210230/https://www1.nyc.gov/site/lpc/about/about-lpc.page . live.
  4. Web site: Landmark Designation . May 28, 2020 . New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission . September 21, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200921092455/https://www1.nyc.gov/site/lpc/about/landmark-designation.page . live.
  5. News: Ennis . Thomas W. . April 20, 1965 . Landmarks Bill Signed by Mayor; Wagner Approves It Despite Protests of Realty Men . subscription . December 17, 2020 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331 . May 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210503225217/https://www.nytimes.com/1965/04/20/archives/landmarks-bill-signed-by-mayor-wagner-approves-it-despite-protests.html . live . 28.
  6. News: Fowle . Farnsworth . October 18, 1965 . First Official Landmarks of City Designated; 20 Sites Listed — Each to Get Year's Grace . subscription . December 17, 2020 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331 . April 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406232836/https://www.nytimes.com/1965/10/18/archives/first-official-landmarks-of-city-designated-20-sites-listed-each-to.html . live . 37.
  7. Web site: May 7, 1964 . New York City Landmarks Law . December 17, 2020 . New York Preservation Archive Project . January 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230129233133/https://www.nypap.org/preservation-history/new-york-city-landmarks-law/ . live.
  8. News: December 18, 1973 . Metropolitan Briefs; Lindsay Signs Landmarks Bill . subscription . December 17, 2020 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331 . April 29, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220429161848/https://www.nytimes.com/1973/12/18/archives/metropolitan-briefs-justice-pfingst-loses-newtrial-plea-lindsay.html . live . 45.
  9. News: Carmody . Deirdre . March 27, 1974 . Quietly, Central Park Advances as Landmark . subscription . May 25, 2024 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331 . May 25, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240525232042/https://www.nytimes.com/1974/03/27/archives/quietly-central-park-advances-as-landmark-careful-questioning.html . live . 47.
  10. News: April 17, 1974 . Metropolitan Briefs . subscription . May 25, 2024 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331 . May 25, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240525232043/https://www.nytimes.com/1974/04/17/archives/metropolitan-briefs-hearing-set-for-sex-film-teacher.html . live . 47.
  11. News: Goldberger . Paul . July 24, 1974 . Carnegie Hill Areas at 5th Ave. Designated a Historic District . subscription . May 25, 2024 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331 . January 27, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240127173350/https://www.nytimes.com/1974/07/24/archives/carnegie-hill-areas-at-5th-ave-designated-a-historic-district-high.html . live . 43.
  12. News: Carroll . Maurice . November 14, 1974 . 3 New Sorts of Landmarks Designated in City . subscription . February 16, 2022 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331 . February 16, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220216042933/https://www.nytimes.com/1974/11/14/archives/3-new-sorts-of-landmarks-designated-in-city-landmarks-of-3-sorts.html . live . 49.
  13. News: Kennedy . Shawn G. . January 29, 1975 . Ocean Parkway Gets Landmark Designation . subscription . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220318174225/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/01/29/archives/ocean-parkway-gets-landmark-designation.html . March 18, 2022 . March 18, 2022 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331 . 36.
  14. News: January 29, 1975 . Verdi Square Now a Landmark . newspapers.com . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220318174218/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97873928/verdi-square-now-a-landmark/ . March 18, 2022 . March 18, 2022 . New York Daily News . 7.
  15. News: Toscano . John . January 29, 1975 . Designate Parkway A Scenic Landmark . newspapers.com . May 25, 2024 . New York Daily News . 247 . May 25, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240525232045/https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-designate-parkway-a-scenic-la/148050915/ . live.
  16. News: November 26, 1975 . Landmark Status Voted For 5 Places in City . subscription . May 25, 2024 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331 . May 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230517122702/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/11/26/archives/landmark-status-voted-for-5-places-in-city.html . live . 64.
  17. News: Fowler . Glenn . February 20, 1980 . Riverside Drive and Park Now Landmark; Park Vote Unanimous; Constructed in 1901 . subscription . May 25, 2024 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331 . April 5, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240405213033/https://www.nytimes.com/1980/02/20/archives/riverside-drive-and-park-now-landmark-park-vote-unanimous.html . live . Section M . 1.
  18. Web site: Chan . Sewell . July 16, 2008 . Former S.I. Butcher Shop Is Now a Landmark . May 25, 2024 . City Room . March 31, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230331195614/https://archive.nytimes.com/cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/16/former-si-butcher-shop-is-now-a-landmark/ . live.
  19. Web site: Custodio . Jonathan . Old Croton Aqueduct Becomes The Bronx's First-Ever Scenic Landmark . The City . May 2, 2024 . May 25, 2024 . May 9, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240509141215/https://www.thecity.nyc/2024/05/02/old-croton-aqueduct-statue-landmark/ . live.
  20. LPC Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Scenic Landmarks . New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission . April 16, 2024 . May 25, 2024 . May 25, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240525232044/https://www.nyc.gov/site/lpc/about/pr2024/lpc-celebrates-50-years-of-scenic-landmarks-20240416.page . live.
  21. News: Chan . Sewell . July 17, 2008 . New Landmarks for New York City . limited . May 25, 2024 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331 . November 26, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221126025833/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/17/arts/17arts-NEWLANDMARKS_BRF.html . live.
  22. Web site: Durkin . Erin . May 15, 2018 . Coney Island Boardwalk dubbed official city landmark on 95th birthday . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180517005735/http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/coney-island-boardwalk-dubbed-official-city-landmark-article-1.3991762 . May 17, 2018 . New York Daily News.
  23. Web site: May 15, 2018 . NYC Designates Coney Island Boardwalk a Scenic Landmark . Associated Press . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200114231954/https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nyc-designates-coney-island-boardwalk-a-scenic-landmark-new-york-city-ny/145355/ . January 14, 2020 . WNBC.
  24. News: Hansen . Matt . April 27, 2015 . Concrete? Coney Island fans say only wood will do for their beloved boardwalk . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150429162151/http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-coney-island-20150427-story.html . April 29, 2015 . Los Angeles Times.
  25. Web site: Veronica . Rose . Landmarks Designates the Old Croton Aqueduct Walk as the Bronx's First Scenic Landmark . CityLand . April 17, 2024 . April 20, 2024 . April 20, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240420212748/https://www.citylandnyc.org/landmarks-designates-the-old-croton-aqueduct-walk-as-the-bronxs-first-scenic-landmark/ . live.
  26. Web site: Swanson . Emily . Old Croton Aqueduct Walk receives Bronx's first scenic landmark designation . Bronx Times-Reporter . April 22, 2024 . May 25, 2024 . May 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240518091239/https://www.bxtimes.com/old-croton-aqueduct-landmark/ . live.
  27. Web site: Moloney . Síle . April 19, 2024 . LPC Designates Aqueduct Walk as Bronx's First Scenic Landmark in Unanimous Vote . April 20, 2024 . Norwood News . April 20, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240420212748/https://www.norwoodnews.org/lpc-designates-aqueduct-walk-as-bronxs-first-scenic-landmark-in-unanimous-vote/ . live.

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