New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission

The Landmarks Preservation Commission is an agency of the City of New York City, whose job it is historically valuable buildings and areas ( Historic Districts) in the city to identify and provide a historical monument.

The Landmarks Preservation Commission was established in 1965 by Mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr. to life after the public awareness about conservation through the controversial demolition of some historically important buildings, especially in 1963 demolished the old Penn Station, was increased.

Types of monuments

Can be placed under protection following kinds of monuments:

• Individual monuments, such as buildings and other structures, such as the " Wonder Wheel", a Ferris wheel at Coney Iceland;
• Interiors that are publicly accessible and have a special architectural or historic significance;
• Landscape monuments, such as the Central Park and Prospect Park;
• Historic Districts that have a specific architectural context or historical significance.

To be protected as a monument, a structure must be older than 30 years and " have a special character or special historical or aesthetic value as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the city, the state or the nation."

Structure and Tasks

The Landmarks Preservation Commission consists of eleven members appointed by the Mayor of the City of New York Commissioners, ten of whom are volunteers appointed, and a solid staff of employees in six departments:

• The archeology department ( Archeology Department ) deals with historical remains in the soil; in the context of environmental impact assessment for major projects, the Commission request further advice, if there is evidence that a plot could be ärchäologisch significant.
• The Research Department (Research Department) examined whether the proposed building or urban areas actually have historical significance and therefore under monument protection should be provided.
• The Monument Protection Department ( Preservation Department ) helps owners of listed buildings in the restoration.
• The monument stewardship program ( Historic Preservation Grant Program ) provides owners of monuments grants of up to 25,000 U.S. dollars for the restoration of facades available.
• The Enforcement Division ( Enforcement Depertment ) ensures compliance with the conservation provisions.
• The Department of Environmental Coordination (Environmental Review Coordination) ensures that the interests of preservation as part of the environmental impact assessment of construction projects in New York are complied with.

Obtaining the monument status

Any citizen may submit a request for the protection of a building or urban area of monument protection. The staff of the Landmarks Preservation Commission then evaluates whether the criteria are met for a conservation binding. The Commission then notes the monument status. The Department of City Planning must then decide whether the protected status of a monument to urban development is in conflict. The final decision on whether a building or a town area is historically significant is up to the City Council ( City Council).