Res. No. 637
Resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of the signing of the New York City Landmarks Law.
By Council Members Koo, Dromm, Johnson, Lander, Mendez, Menchaca, Gentile, Levin, Kallos, Wills, Rosenthal, Williams, Weprin, Garodnick, Dickens and Mealy
Whereas, On April 19, 1965 Mayor Robert Wagner signed the New York City Landmarks Law granting the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission authority to preserve significant historic buildings in the city; and
Whereas, The Landmarks Law and the Preservation Commission were a response to the public outcry over the loss of the architecturally and historically significant buildings throughout New York City; and
Whereas, Historically and architecturally significant buildings often serve as symbols that identify a place and the cultural beliefs or values of its people; and
Whereas, New York is a unique, world-class, international city composed of people from around the globe; and
Whereas, The architecture and other structures of New York City reflect the beauty, power, and diversity of its people; and
Whereas, The mandate of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, established by the passage of the Landmarks Law, is to identify and designate those improvements, districts, and landscape features within the city that must be preserved because of their special character or special historical or aesthetic value; and
Whereas, Under the Landmarks Law, the purpose of such preservation is to safeguard the city's special historic, aesthetic, and cultural heritage; stabilize and improve property values in historic districts; encourage civic pride in the beauty and accomplishments of the past; protect and enhance the city's attractions for tourists; strengthen the city's economy; and promote the use of the city's landmarks for the education, pleasure, and welfare of the people of the city; and
Whereas, To date, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission has preserved more than 31,000 properties through designation of 1338 landmarks, 115 interior landmarks, 10 scenic landmarks, and 111 historic districts; and
Whereas, The Landmarks Preservation Commission has reviewed countless applications for development, construction, and improvement of landmarked buildings and on property within historic districts in order to preserve the character of these buildings and districts; and
Whereas, The preservation of these buildings, interiors, and districts has greatly enriched the City for the past 50 years, and will continue to protect the unique identity of New York City into the future; and
Whereas, The New York City Landmarks Law and Landmarks Preservation Commission helped to usher in an era of landmarks preservation nationwide; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York commemorates the 50th anniversary of the signing of the New York City Landmarks Law.
DSC
LS# 4449
3/20/2015 9:35AM