Friends of the Upper East Side
Historic Districts

On Saturday, June 27, 2009, The New York Times ran a story, Lexington Avenue Journal: A Shopping District That Takes You  Back in Time.  The article discussed the individual character of Lexington Avenue shops.   FRIENDS Executive Director, Seri Worden, is quoted and our efforts to expand the Upper East Side Historic District are featured.  FRIENDS believes that these shops add to the important sense of place and help maintain the low rise, neighborhood feel of Lexington Avenue.

We are THRILLED to announce that on Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to calendar the proposed Upper East Side Historic District Expansion! Applause filled the room after the calendaring was approved.  The expansion areas, including the northern extension from 72nd to 75th streets, and the southern extension from 63rd to 65th streets, will provide protection to help prevent unwanted demolition, alteration, or inappropriate development in this area.  The calendaring is the first formal step to officially designate the Upper East Side Historic District Expansion.  We will now await a public hearing, which will most likely to be held in the fall. We will keep you updated, as having public support at the hearing will be imperative to our final success. 

Please see below the Upper East Side items on the LPC Agenda for Tuesday, July 7, 2009. Public hearings are held in the Conference Room at the Municipal Building, 1 Centre Street, 9th Floor, Borough of Manhattan. Any person requiring reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the hearing or attend the meeting should call or write to the Landmarks Commission no later than five business days before the hearing or meeting. Hearing times are announced on the LPC website, the Friday prior to a hearing.

113 East 64th Street - Upper East Side Historic District
A residential building, designed by W.P. & A.M. Parsons and built in 1881-82, and altered by Theodore A. Cieslewicz in 1948. Application is to alter the facade.

51 East 91st Street - Expanded Carnegie Hill Historic District
A neo-Grec townhouse designed by A.B. Ogden and Son, built in 1884 and altered in 1950. Application is to construction a rooftop addition.

1140 Fifth Avenue - Carnegie Hill Historic Building
A neo-Renaissance style apartment building, designed in 1921 by the Fred F. French Co. Application is to establish a master plan governing the future installation of windows.

1211 Park Avenue - Carnegie Hill Historic District
A neo-Georgian style townhouse designed by Flemer & Koher and built in 1922. Application is to construct a rooftop addition. Zoned R10.

1298 Madison Avenue - Expanded Carnegie Hill Historic District
A Romanesque Revival/Queen Anne style rowhouse built in 1889 by A.B. Ogden & Son, altered in 1926 and agaiun in 1955-56 by Glick & Gelbman. Application is to modify the facade and construct a rooftop and rear yard additions.

Last Wednesday, June 3rd, over 80 loyal supporters braved the pouring rain and packed into the auditorium at the Hunter College School of Social Work for a Community Meeting hosted by the Landmarks Preservation Commission and Councilmember Daniel Garodnick.  Owners within the proposed district gathered to learn more about the expansion of the Upper East Side Historic District.  The room was filled with a sea of supporters wearing bright orange “Save Lexington Avenue” stickers.  Also present were city preservationists from Historic Districts Council, CIVITAS, and Carnegie Hill Neighbors to show their support.

After an introduction by Councilmember Daniel Garodnick and words of support from Councilmember Jessica Lappin, the Landmarks Preservation Commission presented their research and proposed boundaries for the historic district expansion.  Their boundaries take in most of the proposed northern extension, from 72nd to 75th streets and a portion of the southern extension, from 63rd to 65th streets.  The LPC then opened up the meeting to questions and comments from owners and supporters. 

We are very happy to report that no one spoke out against the expansion.  The next step in the process is for the LPC to “calendar” the proposed expansion, which they indicated may happen this summer. This is a huge accomplishment for FRIENDS!  We couldn’t have done it without all of your outstanding support and we will keep you updated on this exciting progress.     

Please see below the Upper East Side items on the LPC Agenda for Tuesday, June 16, 2009. Public hearings are held in the Conference Room at the Municipal Building, 1 Centre Street, 9th Floor, Borough of Manhattan. Any person requiring reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the hearing or attend the meeting should call or write to the Landmarks Commission no later than five business days before the hearing or meeting. Hearing times are announced on the LPC website, the Friday prior to a hearing.

1211 Park Avenue - Carnegie Hill Historic District
A neo-Georgian style townhouse designed by Flemer & Koher and built in 1922. Application is to construct a rooftop addition. Zoned R10.

867 Madison Avenue - Gertrude Rhinelander Waldo Mansion - Individual Landmark
A neo-French Renaissance style mansion designed by architects Kimball & Thompson and built in 1895-98. Application is to replace storefront infill.

1298 Madison Avenue - Expanded Carnegie Hill Historic District
A Romanesque Revival/Queen Anne style rowhouse built in 1889 by A.B. Ogden & Son, altered in 1926 and agaiun in 1955-56 by Glick & Gelbman. Application is to modify the facade and construct a rooftop and rear yard additions.

51 East 91st Street - Expanded Carnegie Hill Historic District
A neo-Grec townhouse designed by A.B. Ogden and Son, built in 1884 and altered in 1950. Application is to construction a rooftop addition. Zoned R8B, R10,C15.

1165 Fifth Avenue - Carnegie Hill Historic District
A neo-Renaissance stle apartment building designed by J.E.R. Carpenter, and built in 1925-26. Application is to alter windows and doors at the penthouse.