The Issue: A move to designate some Midtown buildings as landmarks and stop them from being altered.
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The New York Landmarks Conservancy specifically looked at development sites listed by the city as an obvious focus (“Preservationist Fools,” Steve Cuozzo, PostOpinion, Feb. 19).
We discovered that these sites contain 17 landmark-quality buildings. It is not surprising that our list varies from other groups that took a wider look. It simply shows the number of good, existing buildings in the area.
There is plenty of room in the 78 blocks under review for new construction without destroying the older buildings that give the area its character. The harsh reaction to the many questions this proposal raises may show that they are hitting a nerve. A good proposal will withstand scrutiny.
Peg Breen
President
The New York
Landmarks Conservancy
Manhattan
The Municipal Art Society of New York recommended that the Landmarks Commission evaluate 17 total buildings, less than 3 percent of the City’s 587-building original study area. This would not stop new high-rise development. Of course, the decision to designate or not will be entirely up to the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
Tall buildings will not by themselves cure Midtown’s ills. The city needs a vibrant mix of buildings and uses so that diverse groups of workers, tourists and New Yorkers can all continue to find their place in Midtown.
MAS’s preservation recommendations were created within a larger framework that also evaluated public realm, transportation infrastructure and architecture of the future. A comprehensive report will be released at the end of this month.
Vin Cipolla
President
Municipal Art Society of
New York
Manhattan