On April 19, 1965, Mayor Robert Wagner signed the New York City Landmarks Law, enabling the city to to protect historic landmarks and neighborhoods from destruction or alteration. The law established the creation of a permanent Landmarks Preservation Commission, which is responsible for reviewing, enacting, and enforcing the designation of landmarks and historic districts.
The legal definition of a landmark stipulates that the building or property must be at least 30 years old and possess a special historic, aesthetic, or cultural importance. The law has evolved over time, most notably in through a series of amendments in 1973 which allowed for the designation of “interior landmarks” and eliminated a waiting period of three years between every six-month period of allowed designations. In 1990, the Board of Estimate, which had the responsibility of approving or affirming designations made by LPC, was eliminated. Its role in landmark designation was taken over by the City Council.
A Brief History of the Law
- 1962 – Geoffrey Platt and the pre-law Landmarks Preservation Commission began studying and reviewing the subject of landmark protection legislation.
- May 7, 1964 – After spending years carefully crafting legislation with the help of Harmon Goldstone, Geoffrey Platt laid a draft of the proposed Landmarks Law on Mayor Robert Wagner’s desk. The legislation is supported by the Municipal Art Society, the American Institute of Architects, the Fine Arts Federation, the Architectural League and the American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society (among others).
- September 1964 – As the draft of the Landmarks Law rests on the Mayor’s desk, the New York press announced that the Brokaw Mansions, located at East 79th Street and Fifth Avenue were going to be demolished.
- September 26, 1964 – Citizens protested in a demonstration in front of the Brokaw Mansions, and called for the creation of legislation to save their landmarks. The threat to the Brokaw Mansions, highlighted by the extensive press coverage, eventually helped move the draft of the landmarks legislation off of Mayor Wagner’s desk and into the City Council.
- October 6, 1964 – The New York Times revealed that “a bill to preserve the city’s architectural heritage had been introduced into the city council.”
- December 3, 1964 – The legislation was introduced in a public hearing by its three sponsors, Councilman Seymour Boyers, Robert Low and Richard S. Aldrich. Their names appear on the law.
- February 6, 1965 – Demolition of the Brokaw Mansions began, helping to move the landmarks legislation out of the City Council committee that was reviewing it.
- The City Council committee made several revisions to the original bill: the council added the stipulation that each borough must be represented on the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and required any structure considered a landmark to be “30 years or older.” In response to pressure from real estate interests, the City Council removed the “400-foot provision,” which would have granted the Commission jurisdiction over all property within 400 feet of a landmark. The City Council also added a moratorium clause into the legislation. The clause stated that after an initial eighteen month period for designations, there would be a subsequent thirty-six month period during which the Commission could not designate any properties. Successive 6-month designating and 36-month non-designating periods would follow.
- April 19, 1965 – Despite opposition from real estate developers, Mayor Robert Wagner signed the bill into law. The Landmarks Law of 1965 went into effect immediately. The first building granted landmark status in 1965 was the 300 year-old Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House.
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