Landmarks Preservation Commission to resume public hearings virtually

The city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission will resume its public hearings next week after being suspended for a month as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. As first reported by Brownstoner, the meetings and hearings will be held virtually on the video conferencing app Zoom, with the first happening on Tuesday, April 21.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced last month a temporary suspension of all city land use and rezoning processes for the duration of the state of emergency. Since March 17, Landmarks has accepted permit applications electronically–and issued 239 permits the first week–and has been available to field questions via email and phone.

The virtual hearings will allow for testimony from the public. The LPC said it will also stream the meetings live on its YouTube channel. Details on how to participate have not been released as of Tuesday. Items to be presented on April 21 (find the updated agenda here) were originally scheduled for March 17.

Last month, Landmarks launched #LoveNYCLandmarks initiative to share photos, story maps, neighborhood tours, and games and activities for both adults and children related to historic buildings and areas across the city.

“Though our circumstances have changed, we remain committed to protecting and preserving New York City’s architecturally, historically, and culturally significant buildings and sites, promoting these places so we may learn and be inspired by the past, while collectively working through these difficult times today,” LPC Chair Sarah Carroll wrote in a post on Medium.

[Via Brownstoner]

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