Historic preservation laws can protect landmarks from being demolished. Designating them as local or national historic landmarks provides documentation, protection from federally funded projects and general promotion.
Financial incentives may also be offered, however once original features have been removed a building cannot be considered an historical landmark.
1. It’s the law
Landmarks are properties designated by government to have cultural or historic significance, such as buildings or entire districts. Landmarks must abide by certain rules to ensure they are maintained without alteration, which includes regular maintenance.
New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) is responsible for designating and regulating landmark properties within its city limits, with over 37,000 landmarks and several hundred historic districts under their purview. They possess powers to stop building permits being issued on landmark properties as well as prevent developers from demolishing landmarks without due process being followed.
However, landmark buildings don’t protect them from being torn down; owners could potentially have good reason for doing so; for example if it falls into disrepair due to non-maintenance it could be demolished to make room for new projects – hence why residents should support efforts that preserve community landmarks before it’s too late.
2. It’s the economy
Attentive preservationists believe that historic buildings’ true value lies not just in their longevity but in their resilience against change; so they work tirelessly to make sure these iconic structures can weather time’s challenges while continuing to tell their tales.
But it is important to remember that becoming a historical landmark doesn’t protect a building from being demolished; its owners may still tear it down to build something else.
Advocates are advocating for a stronger plan to protect historic buildings from demolition. Such a process would include hosting an expert engineering roundtable and engaging community groups in order to identify landmarked properties’ primary risks; thus enabling LPC to proactively protect historical properties before any attempt at destruction takes place.
3. It’s the community
Penn Station’s demolition is often seen as the catalyst behind New York City’s landmarks law; however, preservationists had long been fighting to protect historic sites long before that day came.
Landmarking may be a powerful tool, but it doesn’t guarantee a building will remain free from demolition. A property owner could still raze an historic structure as long as no demolition permit has been issued by the Department of Buildings – something they often struggle to do quickly enough.
Landmarks may also be demolished for nonhistorical reasons, such as dangerous structural conditions or incapacity for their original use. Furthermore, buildings may be torn down if their historic character has been compromised through renovation – this may involve changing facade design, cutting back stories or gutting interior spaces – or listed on national or local registers but not landmarked status.
4. It’s the future
When a landmark is under threat, it requires much work to rally public support and influence officials to change regulations or policies in its defense. Even then, its future remains uncertain.
Landmarked properties have certain restrictions on demolition and renovation within their historic districts, though that doesn’t guarantee they won’t be demolished; demolition may take place if a structure threatens disrepair and poses safety issues.
Historical landmarks can also be demolished if their owners wish to do so in order to make way for something else, making their future so uncertain. While a permit from the Landmark Preservation Commission might stop destruction from taking place, even if an owner wishes to protect their property they can’t stop it happening without fighting hard enough on its behalf.
