The Municipal Art Society of New York

MAS’s planned restoration of the “Rocket Thrower” statue and our energy retrofit at the Henry Street Settlement, were announced today as two of the 40 finalists of American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2012 Partners in Preservation Initiative in New York City.  Partners in Preservation is a community-based program providing preservation grants for local historic places. Continue Reading>>

MAS and over 50 representatives of the preservation community turned out in force Wednesday morning to oppose the City Council committees’ proposed problematic changes to the Landmarks Law.

The multitude of the 11 proposed bills deal with issues of transparency, timelines for processing requests and the creation of a mandatory survey department Continue Reading>>

One of the best ways to learn which energy-saving investments will help make your building more efficient is with an energy audit. As we mentioned in our last demonstration project update, we initiated three audits at the Settlement. Our Con Ed audit focused on lighting, NYSERDA’s offered general recommendations on lighting, boilers and information on NYS incentive programs and competitive energy markets (ESCOs) and lastly, an auditor with expertise in historic community facilities gave us an in-depth audit including the pros and cons of implementing certain upgrades.  All the audits offered estimated “paybacks” –how long it will take for the investment to pay for itself in saved energy costs—a helpful metric to anyone interested in long and short term costs and benefits.  Continue Reading>>

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Adopt-A-Monument program, created by MAS in 1987 to rescue public statuary at risk of deterioration. Our two “Adopt” programs (the second being Adopt-A-Mural) have raised nearly $3.5 million to conserve and maintain 51 works of public art from the turn of the 20th century to the present in all five boroughs.  All monuments conserved under this program are available for public viewing. Continue Reading>>

Over the past year, MAS and Henry Street Settlement have embarked on an exciting demonstration project to sustainably retrofit the Settlement’s three landmarked buildings on the Lower East Side.  Limiting our budget to serve as a model for small- building owners, we are looking for the greatest payback in energy efficiency for the least dollars, while setting up a plan to effect sustainable change over the coming years. Our first steps and some of our progress to date is outlined below. Continue Reading>>

On March 14, the City Council approved the proposal to redevelop the former St. Vincent’s Hospital site on West 12^th and 7^th Avenue into a mixed-use development with a new 16,667 square foot park. The agreement that was reached includes a number of community benefits, including the commitment by the Bloomberg Administration and the New York City Department of Education to build a new public school at 75 Morton Street.  MAS has been focused on this project since it was announced in 2007. Continue Reading>>

The Municipal Art Society, in collaboration with Terrapin Bright Green and Cook+Fox Architects, is releasing a call for submissions soliciting case studies of green preservation projects, which may be selected for use in the manual, “Greening New York City’s Historic Buildings: A Guide for Property Owners.” The manual will provide guidance for building owners, architects and contractors on how to improve the energy efficiency and sustainability of historic buildings without compromising their character or resiliency. The case studies will be used in the manual to illustrate best practices and supplement the technical information. Continue Reading>>

To emphasize the importance of improving the energy efficiency and environmental performance of the city’s older buildings, MAS testified in support of the Department of City Planning’s (DCP) proposed Zone Green Text Amendment. The amendment would remove zoning impediments to the construction and retrofitting of buildings to improve energy efficiency and environmental performance, helping New Yorkers save money on energy expenses, which according to the DCP averages about $15 billion each year. Continue Reading>>

On January 23, 2012, the City Planning Commission (CPC) voted to approve the application submitted by the Rudin Management Company to redevelop the site of the former St. Vincent’s Hospital on West 12^th Street and Seventh Avenue. The development includes 450 apartments with retail on the East Site and new open space on the Triangle Site (see map below). For more background information on the project, including MAS’ previous work, click here. Continue Reading>>

Two landmarked buildings on the Upper East Side are threatened with demolition because the owner is making a claim of economic hardship. The two buildings in question were built at the turn of the 20th century, and as part of First Avenue Estate complex, are important for their innovative design as well as in their role in social housing reform. MAS has long been a supporter of its designation and even filed an amicus brief upholding their landmark status. Continue Reading>>

After nearly five years of review, the federal government has finally transferred the six-acre Admirals Row site to the City of New York, which will turn it over to the Brooklyn Navy Yard for redevelopment. The Navy Yard’s development will include a grocery store, retail and an industrial building. Their plans also include the preservation of two of the most significant historic buildings on the site, the Timber Shed and Quarters B.

MAS has been a strong advocate for the preservation of these historic buildings, and for five years has been raising serious concerns over the federal government’s failure to stabilize the buildings, and for leaving them open to the elements. Continue Reading>>

On Tuesday, the City Council Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting And Maritime Uses affirmed the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s designation of the Borough Hall Skyscraper District. MAS testified in December in support of upholding the Downtown Brooklyn historic district, which we originally proposed in conjunction with the Brooklyn Heights Association and the New York Landmarks Conservancy in 2006. MAS congratulates all of our colleagues who were involved in this important decision Continue Reading>>

There’s a strong perception that greening historic buildings is made arduous by Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) regulations. To help counter that notion, MAS and the LPC are producing a manual, “Greening New York City’s Landmarks: A Guide for Property Owners.” MAS has selected Cook+Fox and Terrapin Bright Green to develop the guide, which will provide straightforward action steps on how to improve the energy efficiency and sustainability of the city’s landmark buildings while meeting preservation standards. Continue Reading>>

On December 7, the City Council’s Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting and Maritime Uses held a public hearing on the designation of the Borough Hall Skyscraper Historic District. MAS, along with many preservation groups, including the Brooklyn Heights Association and the New York Landmarks Conservancy, testified in support of the historic district, stating:

“The City has made serious investments into the revitalization and rejuvenation of this part of Brooklyn,  from the Downtown Brooklyn rezoning to the creation of Brooklyn Bridge Park. Continue Reading>>

 Despite being named the “Coolest City on the Planet” by GQ, Brooklyn hasn’t been an independent city for more than a century. But it has a celebrated architectural heritage that equals cities across the country, including a skyscraper district that once rivaled equaled Lower Manhattan’s.  That district, which was designated a historic district by the City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), includes an exceptional concentration of late nineteenth and twentieth century commercial skyscrapers ranging from Romanesque to Gothic styles.

On Wednesday, the City Council’s Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Siting and Maritime Uses will hold a public hearing on the designation of the Borough Hall Skyscraper Historic District. MAS will be testifying in support of the historic district, and invites readers to join us at the hearing, or contact their Councilmember and urge them to uphold the LPC’s designation and the district’s boundaries. Continue Reading>>