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December 1, 2008
Landmarks Preservation Commission: Will Times Special Series Have it All Covered?
Noticing New York
Michael D.D. White offers a critique of The New York Times's in-progress series analyzing the work of the City's Landmarks Preservation Commission.
The New York Times is running a series of articles that will bring some welcome attention to shortcomings of the city landmarks preservation process. The two articles that have run so far after a “six-month examination of the commission’s operations” contain some very good reporting but notable omissions in the story being told force us to wonder: Are they saving some major criticism for a future article in the series?
...Just as there is no legitimate need to destroy cornices, round-arched windows and serpentine ornamentation first, there was no need to destroy the Ward Bakery Building so soon. It will probably be decades hence if it is ever replaced by Ratner at all. Still, this kind of demolition, driven by Ratner’s inverse values, continues today as he targets for demolition first that which has greatest value to the community. The current case in point is the demolition of three attractive town houses on Dean Street.
Posted by eric at December 1, 2008 9:13 AM