If you think that your building has very little history, think again. Having recently researched a 5-story building which houses a diminutive store on street level with three apartments resting above it, unexpected history has been discovered. From the original purchase by a single woman in the 1820s to a gathering of citizens led by a senator who denounced loyalty to Lincoln during the Civil War, the hidden history of this quiet little building will soon be revealed in book form. Does your house have a hidden history? What secrets does it hold? Consider doing your own investigative work. Future blogs will give some clues on how to perform your own search. Send your questions.

Historic preservation organizations are learning the importance of reaching out to local communities to inform them of the essentials of caring for the history they hold in their hands. This past week I attended New York City Landmark Preservation Commission’s (LPC) first public workshop entitled Preservation 101 – An Introduction to the Landmarks Preservation Commission. The LPC gave an overview of the history of NYC preservation efforts: what is required to have a building designated; the application process for working on a preserved building, along with information about grant programs, loans, and tax credits. 


WORKING WITH THE LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMISSION 

Contrary to concerns voiced by several attendees, LPC is very user friendly and will walk alongside an individual who is seeking to preserve their building as it is improved, maintained, or restored. Each application is assigned a docket number along with a specific staff member who is dedicated to the applicant during the process. Detailed information about the process can be found on their website: The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.  

WHAT ABOUT….?

The idea of performing work on a designated building can be intimidating.  Some of the concerns that were put before the Commission are as follows:

•  If I do interior work do I still need a permit? Possibly. There are times when interior work affects the outside such as putting in a new kitchen which requires a fan that must be vented to the outside.
  
•  How long are permits good for? Permits are good for 4-6 years unless issued for correction for a violation. In that case the violation correction permit is usually good for approximately 6-12 months.
  
•  Can an inspection be conducted prior to buying a building to see if there is a violation? The best way to discover this is by getting the designation photo which can be used as a guideline. Compare the photo with the current details of the building. Note: Recent designation photos are online at the LPC website. A request for a photo may take approximately one week.
  
•  If the property already has violations that I don’t want to correct, but I want to perform some restorative work that requires a permit, will the LPC issue a permit or do I need to correct the other violations as well?  The LPC will issue a permit for any restorative work regardless if there are other outstanding violations.
  
•  If I have performed work that is in compliance, but I didn’t obtain a permit, will the LPC approve the work? Any work that is in compliance will be approved. If the LPC issues a warning letter indicating that it is aware that work has been completed without an initial permit, the owner simply files an application. If the work is truly in compliance, the completed work will be approved. 
  
•  What if my community board has a problem with the work I would like to do on my building? LPC suggests that you present your plans to the community board prior to applying to the LPC.
  

THE NYC LANDMARK PRESERVATION COMMISSION'S DEDICATION

The LPC’s dedication and commitment to assist in the preservation of city buildings was evidenced as they remained on hand long after the workshop was over in order to answer additional individual questions. If your building is within the five boroughs and is not already dedicated, but you believe it may qualify, visit the LPC website and fill out a Request for Evaluation form. There is an enormous amount of information on the website and the LPC has indicated that there is more to come.