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60TH ANNIVERSARY OF NEW YORK CITY LANDMARKS LAW
MHNALANDMARKS60 Series I
60th ANNIVERSARY OF NEW YORK CITY LANDMARKS LAW (1965-2025)
It is almost impossible to imagine New York City without its famous landmarks. Tourists come from all over the world to see the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, the Morgan Library & Museum, the Flatiron Building and Grand Central Terminal, to name just a few. Murray Hill alone has 14 Designated Landmarks, with all but two listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Each is unique and significant in its own right, and all contribute as a whole to the character of our historic neighborhood and our city.
The New York City Landmarks Law was signed into law In April 1965 by Mayor Robert Wagner to protect historic buildings and neighborhoods from further destruction. The law was created primarily in response to public outrage over the loss of many historically significant buildings in New York City, most notably Pennsylvania Station. After the monumental loss of Pennsylvania Station, the late, great architecture critic Ada Louise Huxtable said, “We will probably be judged not by the monuments we build, but by those we have destroyed.”
The Landmarks Law was responsible for the creation of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), the largest Preservation Agency in the country. The LPC is comprised of 11 commissioners appointed by the Mayor, and is responsible for protecting New York City’s architecturally, historically and culturally significant buildings and sites by designating them landmark or historic district status and monitoring them after their designation. The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association has worked closely with the LPC since the beginning to research and recommend new buildings for landmark designation.
To qualify as an exterior or interior landmark a building must be at least thirty years old and have special historical, architectural or cultural merit as deemed by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Buildings with landmark designation status are protected from destruction and inappropriate alterations, safeguarding the city’s historic and architectural heritage. The LPC must approve any alterations or new construction on landmarked buildings, and all must be kept in good repair.
More than 38,000 buildings are protected throughout all five boroughs. This number includes 1,464 individual landmarks, 158 historic districts, 123 interior landmarks, and 12 scenic landmarks. Owners of landmarked buildings have reason to be proud because in addition to representing the city’s architectural, historic and cultural heritage, landmarked buildings stabilize and improve property values, encourage civic pride and enhance the city’s tourist attractions, strengthening its economy.
Grand Central Terminal’s 1967 landmark status and the New York City’s Landmarks Law were threatened in a suit involving the LPC’s refusal to allow Penn Central, the owner of Grand Central, to build a tower above the terminal. With the Municipal Art Society of New York as the driving force, along with Jacquelyn Kennedy Onassis and many preservationists, the decision to overturn this law was appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States in 1978. Many advocates from Murray Hill took the Historic Train to Washington called “The Landmark Express” to attend the hearing. The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Landmarks Law, which preserved the landmark designation of Grand Central Terminal— a major preservation victory!
New York City’s neighborhoods are so much richer because of the passage of the Landmarks Law. We are secure in the knowledge that the historic character of our great city is maintained and our landmarks are preserved for future generations.
The Preservation & Design Committee will celebrate the LPC’s historic 60th anniversary in 2025 with many special activities. Stay tuned for “landmark of the month” articles on Murray Hill’s 14 landmarks, special walking tours, and details of an artistic drawing competition of Murray Hill’s landmarks. We hope you enjoy the articles and get a chance to walk around the neighborhood, finding pleasure in the architecturally diverse beauty of our Designated Landmarks, from stately mansions to carriage houses and churches. We look forward to seeing you!
PRESERVATION & DESIGN COMMITTEE
By Elaine Silber, Co-Chair Preservation & Design Committee
Susan Demmet, Chair Preservation & Design Committee
Email: Preservation@murrayhill.org
