Latest news with #LandmarksPreservationCommission
Time Out
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Why are Mark Ruffalo, Matt Damon and more trying to save this Upper West Side church?
On the corner of West 86th and Amsterdam stands West-Park Presbyterian Church, a hulking 135-year-old Romanesque beauty with landmark status—and a demolition order looming over its red sandstone shoulders. The congregation, down to just 12 members, says they can't afford the $50 million-plus in necessary repairs, and the ink is dry on a $33 million real estate deal with a condo developer. Enter the Center at West Park, alongside a cast of Hollywood heavyweights. The Center, a nonprofit arts group that's been renting space in the church for over a decade, was officially evicted last week. But its supporters, which include Upper West Side resident Mark Ruffalo and a slew of stars like Matt Damon, Christian Slater, Kyra Sedgwick and Kenneth Lonergan, aren't letting the curtain fall quietly. 'I started out in spaces like this as a young actor here in New York City,' Ruffalo told West Side Rag. 'And when I walked in here, it reminded me of that. My humble beginnings, where you could come and work out your talent, where it wasn't really expensive, where other people who are starting out just like you could meet and you can really figure out what you're doing.' Last fall, he and Damon staged a stripped-down benefit reading of Lonergan's This Is Our Youth to raise funds to save the building from becoming yet another 19-story glass box. Despite eviction orders and losing multiple court battles, the Center is vowing to keep its programming going—off-site for now, but still firmly committed to preserving the church itself. Debby Hirshman, executive director of the Center, has said it's raised more than $5 million for critical repairs but claims the church has blocked the work from moving forward. Meanwhile, the West-Park congregation has asked the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission to strip the building's landmark status, citing financial hardship. Without that designation, demolition could move ahead, but that effort was put on hold in early 2024 when the church withdrew its application, citing ongoing legal disputes with its tenant. A new filing could come at any time. The church argues the condo deal would include a 10,000-square-foot space they could use or lease out, effectively trading one performance space for another. But critics, including Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, say losing the Center and the building would be a major cultural blow.
New York Post
12-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Handsome home on Albemarle Terrace asks $1.75M
Nestled in a corner of Flatbush, Brooklyn stands a rare listing that could be mistaken for the suburbs. The $1.75 million townhouse is on Albemarle Terrace, a serene street near Prospect Park. With its neighbor, Kenmore Terrace, the landmarked cul-de-sac makes up the little-known Albemarle-Kenmore Terraces Historic District. Advertisement 10 The listed townhome (center) is among those praised for its quintessential neo-Federal facade. Courtesy Katherine Marks 10 Albemarle Terrace viewed from East 21st Street. Courtesy Katherine Marks 10 The four-bedroom home's interiors include hardwood floors and crown moldings. Courtesy Katherine Marks Advertisement The district's 32 red brick townhomes date back to 1916. The quiet community, accessed from East 21st Street, is shaded under a canopy of mature Pine Oak Trees. Listings there are understandably rare. The picturesque four-bed, two-bath residence on offer is of particular note, as it is among the 'smaller, gabled houses with dormers,' praised by architecture historians and preservationists in the book 'Bricks & Brownstone: The New York Row House.' The authors dubbed Albemarle Terrace as having 'the most fully realized Neo-Federal houses in the city,' and hailed the shorter townhouses as representing 'perfect bookends of New York's row house building history.' Advertisement 10 The living room, virtually staged with furniture, includes a large bay window and a woodburning fireplace. Courtesy Katherine Marks 10 The black-and-white checkered kitchen. Courtesy Katherine Marks 10 The primary bedroom connects to the sunroom. Courtesy Katherine Marks 10 The large sunroom features two walls of windows. Courtesy Katherine Marks Advertisement 10 The home's intricate hardwood floors extend into the bedrooms. Courtesy Katherine Marks 10 A bathroom includes a free-standing tub. Courtesy Katherine Marks This $1.75 million home spans three floors. Its interiors feature hardwood floors, a woodburning fireplace and a light-filled corner sunroom. A large basement includes a laundry room and access to the backyard. Albemarle Terrace was built by the popular Brooklyn-based firm Slee & Bryson between 1916 and 1917 — red bricks, burned bricks, splayed stone lintels, slate roofs and dormers among their defining features. The pace of life at Albemarle Terrace has changed little over the last 100 years. A 1978 report by the Landmarks Preservation Commission described the community's 'tranquil ambience,' offering a 'refreshing contrast to the crowds, traffic and noise at the nearby intersection of Church and Flatbush Avenues.' Nearly 50 years later, that reputation of tucked-away tranquility still holds true. Listing agent Gabe Leibowitz of Douglas Elliman described Albemarle Terrace as an idyllic community, with neighbors often sitting outside and children running about. 'Every time I've been there, I've seen kids playing on the street,' Leibowitz told The Post, describing the seclusion of the little block as 'a very suburban perk.' Advertisement 10 The leafy backyard includes a stone terrace. Courtesy Katherine Marks Listings along Albemarle Terrace are particularly rare, Leibowitz said. He noted only a handful of sales over the last 15 years. The area has appeared as a regular shooting location for HBO's 'Boardwalk Empire' and served as a Georgetown stand-in in FX's 'The Americans,' according to StreetEasy. Two other million-dollar listings in the historic district, both five-bedrooms, are pending sales.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Palm Beach board to weigh landmark designation for 22 properties next season
As part of ongoing preservation efforts, Palm Beach will consider landmark designation for nearly two dozen properties next season. At its meeting May 21 at Town Hall, the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved a list of 22 properties for consideration following presentations by landmark consultants Emily Stillings and Janet Murphy. Those properties join eight others that were deferred from last season. Additional properties could be considered if time and budget allow, particularly if a property owner brings an eligible property forward seeking landmark designation, Murphy told the Daily News. The landmarks board holds designation hearings between November and April. The list of 22 properties approved for landmark consideration was developed based on the town's current preservation goals. Those goals include: Preserving distinct examples of the town's housing inventory/types. Creating nodes of landmarked properties that preserve historic streetscapes. Prioritizing structures that showcase currently underrepresented architectural styles. Increasing the collection of resources designed by notable architects/builders. Ensuring a balanced geographical distribution of landmarks across town. Murphy said that while she and Stillings considered all five preservation goals when creating their list, their primary focus was on the second goal — creating nodes of landmarked properties that preserve historic streetscapes. She noted that of the 22 properties on the list, eight were located on the "Sea" streets — Seaspray, Seabreeze and Seaview avenues — and four were on Pendleton Lane. "We're just trying to fill in the gaps and preserve the streetscapes in town," Murphy told commission members. The list also included the remaining houses in Barbara Hoffstot's 2015 book "Landmark Architecture of Palm Beach" that have not yet been landmarked, Murphy said. Stillings and Murphy, of West Palm Beach-based Murphy Stillings LLC, will spend the summer researching and writing designation reports for all 22 properties that will be considered. They are: 105 N. County Road; 250 Pendleton Ave.; 306 Pendleton Lane; 315 Pendleton Lane; 322 Pendleton Lane; 333 Pendleton Lane; 225 Barton Ave.; 321 Barton Ave.; 113 Clarke Ave.; 306 Seabreeze Ave.; 345 Seabreeze Ave.; 409 Seabreeze Ave.; 410 Seabreeze Ave.; 230 Seaspray Ave.; 400 Seaspray Ave.; 425 Seaspray Ave.; 140 Seaview Ave.; 130 Cocoanut Row; 141 Chilean Ave.; 230 Chilean Ave.; 234 Chilean Ave.; and 209 Banyan Road. The Landmarks Preservation Commission reviews exterior changes to the more than 350 landmarked buildings in town, and recommends additional buildings for landmark protection to the council each year. It also considers development applications for historically significant buildings, which were created in an effort to discourage owners from tearing down older houses that aren't landmarked, but still contribute to the charm and character of their neighborhoods. Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@ This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach to consider landmark designation for 22 properties next season
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NYC townhouse dating back to 19th century — and with ties to the Gimbels department store family — asks $13.5M
There's the old New York — and then there's the really old New York. A Civil War-era Upper East Side mansion is back on the market for $13.5 million. That's a dramatic drop from the landmarked home's first ask of $18.45 million in 2018. The stately, 36-foot-wide property stands at 163 E. 78th St. It was once home to Elinor S. Gimbel, who married a grandson of Adam Gimbel, founder of the now defunct department store chain. Elinor was also a brewery heiress, according to reports. The Italianite-style red brick, four-story residence is 6,157 square feet and comes with five bedrooms, four baths and two powder rooms. Inside, it features a chef's kitchen, a formal dining room with a fireplace, a 36-foot wide living room and multiple outdoor spaces — including a rear, gated garden. It was built in 1861, according to the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission and Friends of the Upper East Side, although the Sotheby's listing states the home was built in 1899. The brokerage did not respond to requests for comment. It was built by Henry Armstrong in a style popular from the 1860s to 1890s. The current owner purchased the home, known as the Elinor S. Gimbel House, back in 1997. The townhouse boasts both a gated front garden and an enchanting rear garden — with trees, plantings and brick walls — plus a parlor-level terrace. From the garden entry, the home opens to a gallery that leads to a formal dining room with a woodburning fireplace, plus a sitting room and a black marbled chef's kitchen that both have garden views and terrace access. This floor also has a mudroom. Next up is the parlor floor with six sets of south-facing French doors, and a light-filled living room with a woodburning fireplace, as well as a library with another woodburning fireplace and views overlooking the terrace and garden. This level also features a formal dining room and a wet bar. Design details include 10-foot ceilings, custom millwork and herringbone floors. The main bedroom suite is on the third floor and features another woodburning fireplace, floor-to-ceiling French doors with views of East 78th Street and a grey marbled bath. Additional bedrooms occupy the fourth floor. A finished basement comes with wine storage, a laundry room, mechanicals and storage. The listing broker is Serena Boardman, of Sotheby's International Realty.
New York Post
14-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
NYC townhouse with ties to Gimbels asks $13.5M
There's the old New York — and then there's the really old New York. A Civil War-era Upper East Side mansion is back on the market for $13.5 million. That's a dramatic drop from the landmarked home's first ask of $18.45 million in 2018. The stately, 36-foot-wide property stands at 163 E. 78th St. It was once home to Elinor S. Gimbel, who married a grandson of Adam Gimbel, founder of Gimbels — the national department chain that was part of New York from 1842 until its final closure in 1987. Elinor was also a brewery heiress, according to reports. Advertisement 10 The historic townhouse has modern interiors and lots of light. Yoo Jean Han for Sotheby's International Realty 10 The open dining area is also anchored by a gorgeous fireplace. Yoo Jean Han for Sotheby's International Realty 10 The roomy chef's kitchen. Yoo Jean Han for Sotheby's International Realty Advertisement 10 A view of the layout. Yoo Jean Han for Sotheby's International Realty The Italianite-style red brick, four-story residence is 6,157 square feet and comes with five bedrooms, four baths and two powder rooms. Inside, it features a chef's kitchen, a formal dining room with a fireplace, a 36-foot wide living room and multiple outdoor spaces — including a rear, gated garden. It was built in 1861, according to the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission and Friends of the Upper East Side, although the Sotheby's listing states the home was built in 1899. The brokerage did not respond to requests for comment. Advertisement 10 A secondary bedroom comes dressed with vibrant wallpaper. Yoo Jean Han for Sotheby's International Realty 10 Gorgeous doors and a fireplace add stunning detail to this bedroom. Yoo Jean Han for Sotheby's International Realty 10 The home doesn't shy from built-in storage. Yoo Jean Han for Sotheby's International Realty It was built by Henry Armstrong in a style popular from the 1860s to 1890s. Advertisement The current owner purchased the home, known as the Elinor S. Gimbel House, back in 1997. The townhouse boasts both a gated front garden and an enchanting rear garden — with trees, plantings and brick walls — plus a parlor-level terrace. From the garden entry, the home opens to a gallery that leads to a formal dining room with a woodburning fireplace, plus a sitting room and a black marbled chef's kitchen that both have garden views and terrace access. This floor also has a mudroom. 10 There's plenty of room for al-fresco entertaining. Yoo Jean Han for Sotheby's International Realty 10 Additional space for dining on an upper floor. Yoo Jean Han for Sotheby's International Realty 10 This light-filled room is ideal for entertaining. Yoo Jean Han for Sotheby's International Realty Next up is the parlor floor with six sets of south-facing French doors, and a light-filled living room with a woodburning fireplace, as well as a library with another woodburning fireplace and views overlooking the terrace and garden. This level also features a formal dining room and a wet bar. Design details include 10-foot ceilings, custom millwork and herringbone floors. Advertisement The main bedroom suite is on the third floor and features another woodburning fireplace, floor-to-ceiling French doors with views of East 78th Street and a grey marbled bath. Additional bedrooms occupy the fourth floor. A finished basement comes with wine storage, a laundry room, mechanicals and storage. The listing broker is Serena Boardman, of Sotheby's International Realty.
