Friends of the Upper East Side
Historic Districts

Lots of News about the Barbizon Hotel for Women!

Supporters Argue for Former Barbizon Hotel to Become Landmark, by Olivia Scheck. DNAinfo, July 26, 2011

Barbizon, New York Could Achieve Landmark Status, by Allison Halliday. Realty Biz News, July 25, 2011

City considers landmarking Barbizon 63, The Real Deal Online, July 22, 2011

Landmark Status Weighed for Barbizon, by Sarah Kershaw. The New York Times, July 22, 2011

Fancy UES Women’s Hotel Now on Landmarking Docket, by Kelsey Keith. Curbed NY, July 13, 2011

Hotel Once Home to Famous Single Ladies Could Become Landmark, by Amy Zimmer. DNAinfo, July 13, 2011

Group Fighting to Landmark the Barbizon Hotel, by Jen Carlson. Gothamist, July 13, 2011

From the Landmarks Preservation Commission:

The Barbizon Hotel for Women was built in 1927-28 as a residence for single women, who at that time were increasingly attending college and seeking professional careers.

The demand for inexpensive housing for single women lead to the construction in the 1920s of several large residential hotels in Manhattan. The Barbizon was to become perhaps the most glamorous example of the large residential hotels in Manhattan. The list of notable residents of the Barbizon includes many famous actresses and models, authors and artists, and professional women.

The 23-story Barbizon Hotel is an excellent representative of the 1920s apartment hotel building type. Its step-back massing reflects the influence of the 1916 zoning resolution, while the detailing of the lower stories and upper rooflines display a mastery of the eclectic ornamentation popular at the time of the building’s construction.

The Barbizon is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It underwent a major restoration in the early 1980s and was recently converted into condominiums. The building retains a high degree of architectural integrity.

Offer your support of this designation with a letter:

Attend the upcoming Public Hearing:

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

Eighth Annual Ambassador to the
Upper East Side Award Dinner

honoring

RICHARD RAVITCH

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

Please join us as we proudly honor Richard Ravitch at our Eighth Annual Ambassador to the Upper East Side Award Dinner.  Mr. Ravitch is a lawyer, public official and businessman with a long and distinguished career in both the public and private sector.  In addition to serving as the Chairman and CEO of HRH Construction Corporation and Chairman and CEO of the Bowery Savings Bank, he has devoted over 40 years to public service, shaping a diverse range of urban policy from affordable housing to transportation infrastructure.  He has served as Chairman of the New York State Urban Development Corporation, Chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Chairman of the Charter Revision Commission of the City of New York, and Co-Chair of the Millennial Housing Commission.  Most recently, he served as Lieutenant Governor of the State of New York.  Mr. Ravitch is a long-time resident of the Upper East Side.

Tickets

Junior Cocktails (40 & under) $50.00 Junior Group Cocktails (40 & under – 5 tickets) $200.00 Junior Ticket (40 & under) $200.00 Sponsor Ticket $750.00 Sponsor Ticket (Prime dinner seating) $1,250.00 Patron Table (Seating for 10 guests) $5,000.00 Benefactor Table (Prime seating for 10 guests) $10,000.00 I’m unable to attend, but would like to contribute $100.00

In the coming weeks, FRIENDS will be confronted with one of our greatest preservation challenges to date.  The owners of the individually designated City and Suburban Homes First Avenue Estate (the full-block complex from First to York Avenues between East 64^th and East 65^th Streets) have submitted an application for the demolition of 429 East 64^th Street and 430 East 65^th Street on the ground that they do not generate a sufficient economic return.

This is only the 18^th hardship application that has been submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission since the Landmarks Law was enacted in 1965. The LPC should only be asked to grant the demolition of a landmark under the most strenuous of circumstances, when the economic hardship is genuine and all other possible solutions have been exhausted.  This application does not meet those criteria.

As stewards of the architectural legacy of the Upper East Side, we must do everything in our power to fight this hardship application.  And now, we need your financial support to continue this endeavor. Please make a contribution to protect the First Avenue Estate, and the future of every landmark building in New York City.

Or send a check with the memo “First Avenue Estate” to:

Read more about our ongoing fight to protect these landmark buildings: