If you think a particular building, structure or neighborhood has special historic or cultural significance for the community, see if the City, State or Federal government will also recognize the importance of the place. This happens in a few ways:

• The place may be protected as a local landmark building, site or historic district by the New York CIty Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), or
• it may be added to the State and National Registers of Historic Places through the New York State Historic Preservation Office.

Throughout the city there are also advocacy organizations that support local preservation efforts including the Historic Districts Council, Preserving East New York, the New York Landmarks Conservancy and the Municipal Art Society.

New York City Landmark Designation

In New York City, landmarks designated by the LPC have special protections that regulate how the building, site or historic district may be changed. It is very difficult for owners to get approval to demolish or heavily alter properties that have been designated as landmarks by the LPC (though there is no law protecting the properties from neglect, and demolition to ensure public safety could be ordered by a City agency despite City Landmark status).

How LPC Selects Properties to Designate

The LPC has research staff that propose landmark designations, but individuals and groups may also suggest a landmark by sending a Request for Evaluation with supporting materials to the agency as a first step. The agency may then do additional research to be sure the place suggested can be protected by the Landmarks Law, meets the agency priorities and merits a full hearing. Hearings are listed on the agency calendar, and updated to reflect the individual properties that are being reviewed by the LPC each week (click on “Public Hearing Agenda”).

At a hearing, the Landmarks Preservation Commissioners hears from experts and the public about the property in relation to specific criteria for local landmarking. After hearing testimony, the LPC will vote on whether to designate the property as a NYC Landmark; the vote can happen at the same hearing as the testimony or a later public hearing.

Only three NYCHA properties have been designated NYC Landmarks: First Houses | Harlem River Houses | Williamsburg Houses.

Benefits and Protections of NYC LPC Landmark Designation

The NYC Landmarks Law prevents owners from getting a permit to alter or demolish private property without review.

The NYC LPC also can make grant money available to owners for improvements to the exterior of local landmark buildings. The Historic Preservation Grant Program (HPGP) is for landmark property owners that are income-eligible non-profits.

National Register of Historic Places & State Register of Historic Places

Buildings, historic districts, landscapes and other places may also have State and National importance, and be eligible for inclusion on the New York State and National Register of Historic Places. Designating a site happens for both Registers at the same time. The New York State Historic Preservation Office manages all applications and designations for both Registers.  

New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) & NYCHA Properties

The New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) manages all applications and designations for both Registers and usually reviews all planned work on federally-suppoted properties. In order to avoid case-by-case review, NYCHA and SHPO performed a Historic Resources Survey and the SHPO determined that (37) NYCHA properties are listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and reached an agreement about how to protect NYCHA properties in 2018. 

Broadly, the agreement requires NYCHA to consult with SHPO before it does major work at the 37 properties that have been listed in the National and State Register or identified as eligible for listing. The agreement also requires NYCHA to provide a list to SHPO of all properties that are fifty years old or older in 2023 so that it can review whether new properties should be added to the list of eligible or listed properties.

The same agreement says that NYCHA also has to consult with SHPO about:

(1) new construction,

(2) demolition of buildings and/or structures that are at least fifty years old,

(3) digging 18" or deeper that might disturb an archaeological site, and

(4) work in, on or around, or associated with, existing Historic Artworks (the list of artworks that are considered "Historic" is in the agreement).

SHPO Benefits

Listing on the National and State Registers also comes with some financial benefits: owners of listed properties may be eligible for tax credits or funding for building improvements through New York State, e.g. some of the funding provided for the Randolph Houses renovations.

HPGP funds may also be available for properties that are included or eligible for inclusion on the State or National Registers of Historic Places.