FAQ’s About the State and National Registers of Historic Places FRIENDS of the UPPER EAST SIDE HISTORIC DISTRICTS

What are the State and National Registers Owners of historic commercial and similar – to protect and preserve of Historic Places? rental properties listed on the National properties important in our past. Administered by the State Historic Register may qualify for a preservation Will State and National Register listing Preservation Office (SHPO), which is tax credit. restrict the use of a property? part of the State Office of Not-for-profit organizations and Listing on the registers does not interfere Parks, Recreation and Historic municipalities that own listed with a property owner’s right to remodel, Preservation (OPRHP), the registers are properties are eligible to apply for New alter, paint, manage, sell, or even the official lists of properties that are York State historic preservation grants. demolish a historic property, local zoning significant in history, architecture, Properties that meet the criteria for and ordinances not withstanding. If state engineering, landscape design, registers listing receive a measure of or federal funds are used or if a state or archaeology and culture within local, state protection from state and federal federal permit is required, proposed and/or national contexts. More than undertakings regardless of their listing alterations will be reviewed by the SHPO’s 80,000 historic properties in New York status. staff – regardless of listing status. have received this prestigious recognition. How do State and National Registers differ Where can I find more about the State What are the benefits of being listed on the registers? from designation under the New York City and National Registers? The State and National Registers are a Landmarks Commission? WINTER 2005 recognized and visible component of For more information contact the public and private planning. The registers State and National Registers listing should Historic Preservation Field Services at promote heritage tourism, economic not be confused with local landmark (518) 237-8643 or log on to the OPRHP Fall Benefit development and appreciation of historic designation. Many communities have website at http://www.nyparks.state.ny.us Lexington Avenue Update resources. Benefits include: enacted local historic landmark or the Friends of the Upper East Side ordinances that establish local Historic Districts website at www.frends- Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts is pleased to announce that an Honoring Official recognition that a property is commissions and review procedures for ues.org. expansion of the Upper East Side Historic District on the State and National Registers of significance to the nation, the state, locally designated properties. These Louis Auchincloss or the local community. of Historic Places will be considered by New York State, this winter. For more then commissions are established and operated five years, FRIENDS volunteers, staff and interns surveyed and researched over 450 Listing raises the community’s independently from the State and buildings along Lexington Avenue from East 59th to East 79th Streets, as well as On September 27, 2005, nearly 150 awareness and pride in the past. National Registers, although the goals are “friends” from across the city gathered at undesignated side streets from Park Avenue to Third Avenue. We are very grateful to the Colony Club’s ballroom for our the Kress Foundation and the Preservation League of New York State for supporting Second Annual “Ambassador” to the FRIENDS of the UPPER EAST SIDE this important work. Lexington Avenue is such an important artery on the Upper East Upper East Side award dinner honoring Save the Date Side; it is surprising that very little of it is included in the designated historic Louis Auchincloss on the occasion of his HISTORIC DISTRICTS Join FRIENDS for our Twenty-Third district. The sense of place on Lexington is not unlike that of Madison 88th birthday. Louis Auchincloss, the BOARD OF DIRECTORS Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony Avenue, which is part of the district from 62nd Street to 77th quintessential Upper East Sider, is a Founded in 1982, FRIENDS is an 2005 Street. Like Madison, Lexington is lined with sets retired partner in Hawkins Delafield & (1982-1991) Halina Rosenthal, First President Wednesday, February 8, 2006 from independent, not-for-profit 6:00-8:00 pm at The New York School Wood and a prolific novelist of manners. membership organization dedicated Anne L. Millard, President of Interior Design, 170 East 70th Street. His 60th novel, East Side Story, was to preserving the architectural legacy, Tony Rosenthal, Honorary Chairman The public is welcome to attend but published last year. Rita C. Chu, David I. Karabell reservations are required. Our annual benefit was not only a livability, and sense of place of the Gretchen Siebel, Vice Presidents successful fundraiser but also a delightful Upper East Side. In addition to O. Kelley Anderson, Jr.,Treasurer Please call (212) 535-2526. safeguarding the future of the and entertaining social event. After Franny Eberhart, Secretary cocktails, FRIENDS’ loyal supporters Upper East Side’s six historic districts Kent L. Barwick, Judith Churchill, gathered in the Colony Club’s sumptuous and 125 individual landmarks, and as Christina R. Davis, Andrew S. Dolkart, ballroom for dinner. FRIENDS’ president Lionel Goldfrank III, Erin Gray, an advocate for sound preservation Huyler C. Held, Adam Holender, FRIENDS Anne Millard introduced Landmarks policies for the city, Friends has also Thomas Jayne, E. William Judson, Preservation Commission of the UPPER EAST SIDE Chair Robert Tierney, who \ been a leader in successful efforts to Rev. John A. Kamas, Arie L. Kopelman, Henry Lambert, Mimi Levitt, HISTORIC DISTRICTS read a mayoral message, improve dramatically the zoning laws Robert K. Lindgren, Hermes Mallea, and spoke of FRIENDS’ governing the area’s avenues and Norman Marcus, Joyce Matz, 20 East 69th Street, 4B significant role in the Alice McGown, Bannon McHenry, New York, NY 10021 residential side streets. Frederic S. Papert, Li Chung Pei, preservation community. Judith Price, Robert C. Quinlan, Tel: (212) 535-2526 Then Franny Eberhart, For further information please Genie Rice, Alexandra Schlesinger, Fax: (212) 535-2155 a FRIENDS board Web: www.frends-ues.org. telephone 212.535.2526 or visit Annie Schulhof, Patricia B. Selch, member and Elizabeth Shields, Andrew P. Steffan, architectural historian www.friends-ues.org. Jeanne Sloane, Patricia F. Sullivan, gave a lively presentation Roger W. Tuckerman,Margot Wellington, DESIGN: on the history of Julia Widdowson,Caroline Zaleski 22 W 23 ST 3FL NYC 10010 WWW.REVOLUCIONNYC.COM Seri Worden, Executive Director For information, please contact Amy Gomez at 212 229 0700 most part these churches lie east of Third mid-block buildings in revival styles Avenue, from 22nd Street to 125th Street, ranging from Classical to Medieval to Benefit (continued) an area outside designated historic 20th century Arts and Crafts, are FRIENDS’ work on the Upper East Side Special thanks to the Benefit Committee districts. important documents in our changing and our latest initiatives to expand the and all those who helped to make the urban fabric. The continuing survey, Information for each church includes Upper East Side Historic District on the event so successful. With the money sponsored by the Landmarks date and architect, photographs of the National and State Registers. raised, FRIENDS can continue to be the Conservancy, covers all façade, sanctuary, adjoining rectories and curator of the Upper East Side’s Catholic churches and will examine each We were fortunate that three of Louis schools, notes on style and materials, and architectural heritage. brief remarks regarding condition. From for eligibility on the National Register of Auchincloss’ close friends were co-hosts the modernist Church of the Epiphany Historic Places. for this special evening; Schuyler G. During November and December 2004 on Second Avenue at 22nd Street to the Chapin, former Commissioner of Cultural Affairs for New York City, Evy FRIENDS’ board members, Erin Gray Gothic Revival St. Monica on 79th Street, th and Bannon McHenry, surveyed 30 East to Church of St. John Nepomecene at From Left to Right: (1) Church of St. John Nepomecene, 411 E. 66 Halpert, former head of Brearley School Street, (2) Interior of Church of St. thJohn Nepomecene, (3) Church Side Roman Catholic churches. For the 411 East 66th Street. These corner and of St. Catherine Siena, 411 East 68 Street and Joseph Kanon, an author and editor at Houghton Mifflin. Each gave wonderful anecdotes about Mr. Auchinlcoss, expressing admiration for his 60 published novels and his famous sense of humor. Mr. Chapin remarked that Louis Auchincloss was the natural successor of and . Louis Auchincloss gracefully and humorously accepted the praise with an entertaining talk about growing up on the Upper East Side. The guests toasted to Mr. Auchincloss and a cake ablaze with candles was wheeled out. With such outstanding Image Captions: (Top) David and Simone Levinson with guest and (Bottom) Connie Clapp with co-host Schuyler Chapin (Left) company, it was an evening to remember! Honoree Louis Auchincloss

Lexington Avenue Update FRIENDS LETTER from the PRESIDENT of four and five-story 19th century row- Street, totaling 164 held a community meeting on November All love affairs with New York City seem to start “small”! Tiny issues on one’s block, a sassy co-sponsors City dog who is a neighbor or the view out of a window. It is all a beginning! houses, with shops on the first and often contributing build- 1, 2005 for property owners within the the second floors, and apartments above. ings and 34 proposed expansion and any other Council Districts The beginning for me was a call from Helena Rosenthal. I did not know her then, but it Groups of these low-scale buildings are non-contributing interested parties. We discussed the need didn’t take long to learn she was a dynamo on a mission. She and her husband Tony, the sculptor interspersed with larger apartment buildings. for the expansion outlining our work and of the Alamo fame on Astor Place, had a carriage house on East 73rd Street between Lexington 5 and 6 Debates and Third Avenues. We live on the South East corner of Lexington and 73rd Street. Helena houses, which also feature shops on their what it means to be listed on the State Friends of the Upper On October 18, 2005, Citizens Union mobilized our block and we listed 14 carriage houses on the National Register. ground floors. Although the architecture and National Registers. East Side Historic sponsored a debate for City Council is simpler than that in parts of the Upper It was a very pedestrian street with a caterer, an upholstery shop, a picture framer and not Districts in con- Stay tuned for our web exhibit based on Districts 5 and 6 in partnership with much panache. Although the “bones” of these carriage houses were pure and intact, they were East Side Historic District, the building junction with the our work to expand the district. Our web Friends of the Upper East Side Historic stock is nonetheless of a high quality. the worse from not having “tender love and care”. As time went by, this assemblage became State Historic Pres- site will include the historical narrative Districts and Carnegie Hill Neighbors. more and more beloved and cared for. Neighbor knew neighbor, and each carriage house bore FRIENDS initiated this project both to ervation Office from the National Register nomination, The debate was moderated by Edward- its new dignity with broad shoulders and great pride. We suddenly had a personality! celebrate the excellence of the architecture Issac Dovere from Our Town newspaper. and vintage photographs, as well as a You may ask why? Because we realized we had something very special – a small part of New and also protect it from inappropriate database of individual buildings searchable FRIENDS co-sponsored a second debate hosted by Lenox Hill Neighborhood York City history. We learned about who built the houses, who lived in them and about turn alterations and demolition. by address, date of construction, architect House on October 29th, 2005. Both of the century New York life. The proposed boundary increase consists and other data. events had excellent turnouts with topics And suddenly we have been discovered! The price of discovery has brought the overpowering of portions of 17 blocks in two separate If you have any questions or would like ranging from preservation to health care desire to alter the very thing that attracted one in the first place. New owners are seeking approval areas contiguous to the original district. further information, please do not and transportation issues on the Upper for various additions on top of and behind these charming carriage houses. Our greatest wish The largest section of the expansion ex- hesitate to contact Friends office at East Side. FRIENDS was pleased to be a would be for one and all to come take a stroll and enjoy our unique block, but please leave us tends from East 60th Street to East 65th (212) 535-2526 or via email us in- part of these important and informative to enjoy our carriage houses the way they have been for 100 years. Street, taking in buildings located on the events introducing our neighbors to [email protected]. We welcome new neighbors to join this unique block, but we must work to maintain the the candidates. Visit our website for blocks between Lexington and Third lowscale character and special architecture of such a district street! Avenues. A small expansion to the north a transcript of the debate hosted by spans the area from the south side of East Citizens Union. 72nd Street to the north side of East 75th