FRIENDS of the UPPER EAST SIDE HISTORIC DISTRICTS WINTER 2008 Support Grows for Upper East Side NEW Walking Tour Historic District Expansion Guidebook! FRIENDS is As our readers and friends know, Commission (LPC) that the architec- pleased to FRIENDS of the Upper East Side ture and scale of the neighborhood will announce the pub- Historic Districts has launched our be protected and preserved. lication of our new walking tour efforts toward expanding the New York The existing city district, designated in guide, Historic City Upper East Side Historic District 1981 by the LPC, spans the streets east at the city level to include Lexington and west of Lexington Avenue between Lexington Avenue and the nearby residential side- East 60th and East 75th Streets. Since Avenue: An Expansion of the being designated by the LPC, property Upper East Side values have significantly increased for Historic District the 57 blocks within the 1981 district. At by Anthony the same time, the architectural and Robins and historical character of this world Friends of the famous neighborhood has been pre- served for New Yorkers and visitors Upper East Side Historic Districts. This fun and continued on page 2 informative self guided tour covers the newly extended Upper East Side Historic District as listed on the National and State Registers of Historic 866 Lexington Avenue, The Parge House Places. The expanded national and state district includes sections of Lexington streets. Thanks to FRIENDS’ efforts, Avenue and residential sidestreets the expanded district was listed in 2006 between East 60th and East 75th on the State and National Registers of Streets. To learn more about the Historic Places. This was a significant expansion area and how you can milestone in the recognition of the help support this district expansion at architecture and history of the neigh- the local level, visit our web exhibit borhood, but this will not protect and buildings catalogue at www.friends- buildings from demolition or ues.org. The guidebook is free for our damaging alterations. It is only through members. If you aren’t a member yet, designation at the city level by the join FRIENDS and we will send you a New York City Landmarks Preservation Storefront detail of 1055 Lexington Avenue complementary guide right away. Support for the Expansion (continued) alike. By expanding the Upper East famed Skyline Diner building. There Side Historic District we can assure that are also wonderful and unusual the positive effects of landmark examples of residential architecture, status will reach the expansion area such as the white stucco Parge House at prior to the further loss of historic East 65th Street and the grand fabric and before the construction Kean Residence at 861-63 Lexington of large-scale and inappropriate Avenue. Bustling commercial store- development. fronts along Lexington Avenue unite Like other parts of the Upper East Side the residential areas contributing to the Historic District, there are many archi- neighborhood’s livability, sense of place tectural highlights in the expansion and welcoming appeal. area including low-rise 19th century Because we know we have our work cut rowhouses, stately apartment houses, out for us, FRIENDS has been busy charming stable buildings, the over the last few months building legendary Barbizon Hotel and the enthusiasm and support for the expanded district. This summer we submitted a 150-page proposal to the 134 E. 65th Street LPC for the expansion. We have also architecture? If you believe in appro- made many new friends this Fall on priate development while maintaining our walking tours and at house parties the low scale, sense of place and historic in the neighborhood resulting in architecture of the neighborhood, then hundreds of signatures of support from we urge you to make your voice heard homeowners, shopkeepers and co-op via emails, letters, petitions and owners. Preservation organizations postcards to Chairman Robert Tierney throughout the city and state as well as of the Landmarks Preservation our elected officials are also in favor of Commission and Mayor Michael bringing this proposal to a hearing for Bloomberg. We already have hundreds landmarks consideration. Despite such of supporters but we need thousands to overwhelming support, the LPC has not save this quintessential New York City yet acted! neighborhood! Please visit our website What does the future hold for for more information at www.friends- Lexington Avenue, its beloved neigh- ues.org. 160 E. 72nd Street borhood haunts and one-of-a-kind Voice Your Support Landmarks Preservation Hon. Daniel Garodnick Join us for Commission 211 E. 43rd Street, Suite 2004 New York, NY 10017 Robert Tierney, Chair garodnick @council.nyc.ny.us a Tour Municipal Building P: .212.818.0580 One Centre Street, 9th Floor, To celebrate the publication of the New York, NY 10007 F: .212.818.0706 [email protected] guidebook, we offered free walking Hon. Michael R. Bloomberg tours of the expansion area throughout Upper East Side Mayor the Fall. Stay on the lookout for future City Council Members City Hall tours and be sure to join our email list Hon. Jessica Lappin New York, NY 10007 The City Council P: 212.788.3000 for updates and events at www.friends- 336 East 73rd Street, Suite C ues.org. New York, NY 10021 [email protected] P: 212.788.7210 F: 212.788.7207 Manhattan House Designated a New York City Landmark MANHATTAN HOUSE, highlighted side. Through the use of an innovative in FRIENDS’ exhibit “Landmarks of H-plan, as opposed to the standard the Future,” was designated a New York inner courtyard, the design allows for City landmark on October 30th, 2007. greater light and cross-ventilation to 95 Located at 200 East 66th Street, percent of its apartments. Fine modern Manhattan House is New York City’s elements such as the Bauhaus-style first “white brick” apartment building balconies and International Style glass and is one of the most influential lobby further provide access to light and examples of post-war housing in New to gardens. York City. Completed in 1950 by In 2001/2002, Manhattan House was Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the 19- highlighted in our exhibit “Landmarks story residential and retail complex was of the Future: Modern Architecture on erected as part of an urban renewal the Upper East Side” and has been the project by the New York Life Insurance focus of a FRIENDS advocacy campaign Company. In this neighborhood since that time. Sadly, despite the formerly defined by tenements, popularity of our modern show, five Skidmore, Owings & Merrill provided a landmark eligible masterpieces of precedent-setting, light-filled building modern architecture from the exhibit Manhattan House (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Mayer that attracted famous residents such have either been demolished or heavily & Whittlesey: 1950), Ezra Stoller © Esto. as Grace Kelley, Benny Goodman and altered. Those losses include the Florence Knoll. Beekman Theater, Cinemas I and II, Manhattan House as a world class The remarkable siting of Manhattan the Group Residence for Young Adults modern landmark not only for the House revolutionized the apartment and the Richard Feigen Gallery. This Upper East Side, but for all of New block in New York City by locating a unfortunate and discouraging trend in York City. For more information on single large building through the center our neighborhood can only empha- our exhibit, visit http://www.friends- of the block with garden areas on each size the importance of designating ues.org/Moderns.htm. Preservation Lobby Day A Success! City Increases Funding for Landmarks Commission FRIENDS Last May, FRIENDS together with row for the LPC. Funding in fiscal year in the news… a coalition of over 30 preservation 2008 will grow by $300,000. Last groups successfully lobbied for addi- year, the council increased funding by FRIENDS’ Executive Director, Seri tional funding for the New an additional $250,000. This Worden advocates for the original York City Landmarks Preservation additional support will allow the Guggenheim Museum paint color on Commission. In addition to a commission to add staff, and increase National Public Radio. On December letter writing campaign, we held a both the rate of designations and the 15th, FRIENDS was featured in The rally on the steps of City Hall, where efficiency with which permits are New York Times Weekend Explorer City Council Members Jessica Lappin, processed. Thank you to all who called, Column. You can learn about the Dan Garodnick, Tony Avella and emailed and wrote letters in support Upper East Side’s rich architectural Borough President Scott Stringer of these much needed funds. We and social history by downloading the spoke out on the need for more owe a great deal of gratitude to our article, audio walking tour and video LPC funding. Upper East Side Council Members, with commentary by FRIENDS’ Jessica Lappin and Dan Garodnick. Executive Director Seri Worden at And our efforts paid off. In June, the www.friends-ues.org/press.htm. City Council and the Mayor agreed on Stay tuned for details on Preservation the coming year’s budget, including a Lobby Day 2008. budget increase for the second year in a Owner Sues City to De-Designate a Landmark Last Fall, FRIENDS was pleased to the buildings stressed the social and report on the landmark designation historical significance of the complex. of 429 East 64th and 430 East 65th In addition, the designation of the Street of City and Suburban Homes buildings was approved by the LPC and Company, First Avenue Estate. Sadly, by the City Council despite the scope of it’s been a pyrrhic victory for these very the proposed alterations. This blatant significant buildings built between disregard for a New York City social, 1898 and 1915 as model tenements to historical and architectural landmark is address the housing problems of the extremely disheartening, especially nation’s working poor.