NYC Politics 101: Can you tell NYC landmarks apart from basic bldgs?

Test your preservation intuition

This is Part 1 of a multi-part series on preservation. 🧑‍🎓🏛️

Did you know there’s a department with 80 staff whose job it is to regulate historic buildings in NYC? 

I put together a 5-question quiz so you can test your skills at identifying which buildings. But first:

Why do we care about preserving old buildings?

Cities have to change over time to adapt to new needs that arise. We turn unused elevated rail line into the High Line. We turn a former cookie factory into a shopping and food mecca (Chelsea Market). We turn unused newsstands into e-bike charging hubs.

Other times, we tear down old buildings in order to adapt. Sometimes we regret tearing them down later. 

In 1963, the original Penn Station building, a grand Beaux-Arts building, was destroyed in order to make way for a new Madison Square Garden and office towers, and a new station below. Although organizers like Jane Jacobs weren’t able to save Penn Station, they are credited for helping to pass the New York City Landmarks Law in 1965. 

OG Penn Station

NYC’s administrative code identifies seven purposes of historic preservation:

1. effect and accomplish the enhancement and perpetuation of landmarks that reflect elements of the city’s cultural, social, economic, political and architectural history; 

2. safeguard the city’s historic, aesthetic and cultural heritage;

3. stabilize and improve property values in such districts;

4. foster civic pride in the beauty and noble accomplishments of the past;

5. protect and enhance the city’s attractions to tourists and the stimulus to business thereby provided;

6. strengthen the economy of the city; and

7. promote the use of landmarks for the education, pleasure and welfare of the people of the city. 

Are NYC landmarks giving you pleasure? Contributing to your welfare? Hard to answer unless you know which buildings we’re talking about here. 

So let’s delve more into the 7 goals above, landmarking processes, and the pros and cons of preservation in future posts. But for now:

Can you tell the historic landmarks apart from basic bldgs?

Test your preservation intuition with this 5-question quiz and share your score in the comments below!🧑‍🎓🏛️