Our Vision

Letter From The CHAIR

Fall 2024

Dear Friends.

Our “Lunch at a Landmark” 2024 was held at a The University Club on September 26th with Shigeru Ban, 2014 Pritzker Prize winner, with introduction by Dean Maltz. Shigeru spoke of his humanitarian work around the world using local available materials in innovative ways to create housing for those in need after natural disasters or those displaced through political forces. 

Next year, marks the 60th anniversary of the New York City Landmarks Law.  In 1965, the New York City Landmarks Law was enacted in order to protect historic landmarks and neighborhoods from precipitate decisions to destroy or fundamentally alter their character. The law also established the creation of a permanent New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. The Commission is authorized to designate a building to be a “landmark” on a particular “landmark site,” or to designate an area as a “historic district.” The legal definition of a landmark stipulates that the building must be at least 30 years old, and have either historical or architectural merit, as determined by the Commission.

The 1973 amendments to New York City’s Landmarks Law established interior landmarks, scenic landmarks, and historic districts. Today, the Landmarks Law continues to be the most significant tool used by preservationists in the fight to protect their cherished landmarks.

To mark the anniversary year, NYLPF will be supporting the NYC Landmarks Commission in their efforts to acknowledge the milestone in addition to holding a NYLPF Forum with a speaker roster to be announced in early 2025.

We can report a District Marker unveiling was held on September 19th at the Old Croton Aqueduct Walk in the Fordham Heights neighborhood of the Bronx.  The Aqueduct Walk is a linear public park along Aqueduct Avenue between West Kingsbridge Road and West Burnside Avenue. The public walkway is on top of the Old Croton Aqueduct, an engineering marvel constructed in 1842 that brought the first direct water supply to New York City

Thank you for your interest in the work of the Landmarks Preservation Foundation.

Tom Krizmanic, AIA

Board Chair, NYLPF