We’ve seen a disturbing, growing, and preventable rash of landmarked buildings being endangered or demolished on the city’s watch, with the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission and Department of Buildings failing to protect these historic structures as the law requires. Lives, homes, and history are being destroyed again and again as the city does too little or nothing at all. Recent damage to the landmarked 10 Fifth Avenue from city-approved work (the ultimate fate of which is still to be determined), the destruction of 14 Gay Street, and the partial demolition of 351-55 West 14th Street/44-54 Ninth Avenue, are part of a broader citywide trend.

Village Preservation has been calling for the city to take action and reform its failing system of oversight to ensure more such tragedies don’t occur. Last week we and citywide and neighborhood preservation organizations also jointly called upon the city to make real changes to address this growing problem, highlighting two key components: fragile structures, and bad actors. When either are involved, much stricter oversight is needed by city agencies to ensure that serious or irreparable harm is not done.

TO HELP: