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Preservation, Pestilence, and Uncertain Times

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Preservation, Pestilence, and Uncertain Times BOARD OF DIRECTORS Anthony C. Wood, Chair Elizabeth Rohn Jeffe, Vice-Chair William J. Cook, Vice-Chair Stephen Facey, Treasurer Lisa Ackerman, Secretary Daniel J. Allen Michele H. Bogart Matthew Owen Coody Susan De Vries Amy Freitag Shirley Ferguson Jenks Paul Onyx Lozito Liz McEnaney Richard J. Moylan Kate Burns Ottavino Gina Pollara John T. Reddick Anthony W. Robins Michael Ryan NEWSLETTER SPRING/SUMMER 2020 Welcome to the 32nd edition of the newsletter of the New York Preservation Archive Project. The mission of the New York Preservation Archive Project is to protect and raise awareness of the narratives of historic preservation in New York. Through public programs, outreach, celebration, and the creation of public access to information, the Archive Project hopes to bring these stories to light. Preservation, Pestilence, and UncertainBy Anthony C. Wood, Times Archive Project Founder & Chair In times of great upheaval, solace can come from those things and places that provide stability and continuity. Our landmarks and historic districts offer both in spades. In the current ongoing health crisis, our scenic landmarks have been particularly appreciated, offering their natural beauty and refuge as they did after 9/11. The power of place and the importance of community are being underscored as we live through these uncertain times. As efforts and attention are appropriately focused on the health emergency and its economic aftermath, it is important that preservationists articulate the important role preservation plays in our society and make sure the values of preservation are not forgotten in the difficult days and months ahead. Preservation’s history has some lessons to offer us about times like these. Economic bad times and calamities have in some cases had a silver lining for preservation. When homeowners lacked the funds to upgrade their old homes, thus missing out on the asbestos and aluminum siding fads, their buildings survived the modernization that marred so many historic structures. However, although the adage that poverty is a friend of preservation has some truth to it, when carried to its extreme, economic distress can result in the loss of historic structures to abandonment and demolition. We have all seen the results of that. See page 4 With Brush and Pen Building a Case for Diane Hu, “Park Slope, 9th Street.” Watercolor on paper. Rendering of the Preservation Through Art 1856-57 William B. Cronyn House at 271 9th Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn, By Pamela Wong designated an individual city landmark in 1978 | Courtesy of @dianejosephinehu Page 1 Cont. from page 1 tested policies securing Unintentionally, tragedy and preservation as the civic bad times have helped stop ill- good it has proven to be. It considered projects. Rebecca will be up to the preservation Shanor in her wonderful community to defend book, The City that Never and articulate the value of Was, tells how the results of preservation policies in the the failed 1910 assassination face of those who have long attempt on Mayor Gaynor characterized them as getting diminished his abilities and in the way of economic likely contributed to the growth. History has shown death of his plan to alleviate us that preservation does congestion by carving a new not need to be sacrificed for thoroughfare from Eighth economic revival; it is an street to Fifty-ninth street, effective tool to achieve it. between Fifth and Sixth Avenue. That scheme would Those of us who have have demolished hundreds lived through economic of buildings including such downturns know that there treasures as the New York are difficult times ahead for Yacht Club. For the record, preservation. Our work will his proposal was not the be more important than motivation behind the ever, yet resources will be assassination attempt. tighter than ever. To the best of our abilities we must It was World War II that Robert Miles Parker’s drawing, “Helen Hayes Theatre” 1997, ink on paper. continue to support our saved the remains of The marquee, depicting Annie, reminds us that when COVID-19 recedes preservation organizations as Castle Clinton from final “the sun will come out tomorrow,” but what it shines on will depend on preservationists they confront the economic remaining vigilant in the months ahead. | Courtesy of Anthony C. Wood destruction by Robert Moses. fallout. We will be called Because of the war effort, he upon to exhibit nimbleness could not get the heavy equipment needed On the flip side of that coin, difficult and creativity, to do more with less, to to destroy the structure’s historic thick economic times will likely create pressure cooperate and partner as never before. This walls thus giving its defenders the time for other types of policy changes. Welcomed will require an even greater combined effort they needed to turn the tide and ultimately efforts to reboot economies from collapse than the impressive coming together of save the Castle. Another example comes have had mixed results for preservation. preservation organizations that mobilized from decades later. Architectural historian After 9/11, preservationists thought that to confront the aftermath of 9/11. extraordinaire Andrew Dolkart reminds us the immediate need would be to address that it was New York City’s 1975 fiscal crisis historic resources that were damaged due to The preservation community is no stranger that cancelled the Beame administration’s the collapses and aftermath. They quickly to successfully overcoming adversity. All plans to demolish the Tweed Courthouse. realized that those damages were more we need do is look to Albert Bard’s decades limited than imagined and their energies of efforts to lay the groundwork for our Times of reduced economic activity can also needed to focus on the threat to historic landmarks law or to those historic “David create opportunities to advance progressive streets and buildings posed by public and v. Goliath” victories over Robert Moses or, land-use reforms because there are fewer private rebuilding efforts. in more recent times, to the successful legal active or proposed projects that would efforts defending the City and Suburban immediately be impacted by such changes. As the current economic crisis continues to Homes complex. Preservation’s history time Is now the time to float the notion of New unfold, there will be appropriate efforts to and again proves that preservationists are York City instituting a demolition tax? jump-start the economy with the infusion as resilient and as sound as the landmarks What a win for the environment that would of funds for a variety of projects. Let’s they seek to protect. Now is not the time be, as well as being an added encouragement hope some will be preservation projects. to forget that history. Let it inspire us all to to preserve instead of destroy. In moments However, in that desire to spur growth the add new chapters to it. when the traditional opponents of pro- existing drumbeat for reducing regulation preservation policies remain distracted by may lead to efforts to undercut processes Nor is this the time to discount preservation concerns more central to their real estate and procedures essential for preservation. values because they may hinder a passion of interests, a pro-preservation agenda might Yes, reducing bureaucratic delay is desirable, the moment. Gregory Gilmartin recounts actually have a chance of success. but it should not be used to legitimize in Shaping the City: New York and the undercutting well-established and time- Municipal Art Society (a must read for Page 2 anyone interested in preservation history) well-meaning people threaten preservation, both the good times and challenging the ill-conceived idea floated during World they must be appropriately challenged. times—like those we will be facing—that War I of having schoolchildren dig trenches the New York Preservation Archive Project in Central Park as part of the Liberty Loans As a historically undercapitalized movement is dedicated to its work of documenting Campaign. The Municipal Art Society that knows how to punch well above its preserving and celebrating the history strenuously opposed it as did Albert Bard weight, preservation has a history of success, of preservation. Thanks for helping us do who commented: “Why not advertise the often against the odds. At times like these just that. war by smashing the windows in the City that history can be a source of information, Hall?” When bad ideas advanced by good instruction and inspiration. It is to benefit New NYPAP Database Entry on Brooklyn’s “Tree Lady” Unveiled Peter Sohmer, Reisinger Scholar On February 26th, the Archive Project Carthan, who died in 1984, was unveiled a new Preservation History instrumental in leading a campaign in Database entry on Hattie Carthan at an the 1970s to designate a magnificent event honoring her legacy. Held at The magnolia grandiflora—whose branches Brooklyn Collection at the main branch of rise above brownstones on Lafayette the Brooklyn Public Library, the talk was one Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant—as of the final events held in the space prior to a City landmark. The tree, which is the merger of the Brooklyn Public Library now the City’s only living designated with the Brooklyn Historical Society. individual landmark, is just one facet of Carthan’s legacy. Carthan also Known as the Tree Lady of Brooklyn, founded numerous environmental Carthan became involved in preservation and community organizations in efforts only in the last two decades of her life. central Brooklyn, including the But those years were marked by a flurry of Magnolia Tree Earth Center, fighting community engagement. to beautify neighborhoods and empower communities. At the library event, Marlon Rice, former director of the Magnolia Tree Earth Center, presented “The Legacy of Hattie Carthan,” part of The Brooklyn Collection’s Left to right: NYPAP Reisinger Scholar Peter Sohmer, programming for Michelle Montalbano of The Brooklyn Collection, speaker the exhibition A Tree Marlon Rice, and NYPAP Executive Director Brad Vogel | Grows in Brooklyn: An Courtesy of the Archive Project Exploration of Our Plant Life and Green Spaces.
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