Landmark Status for 1817 Federal House at 135 Bowery To Be Stripped By City Council?
 In June, the Landmarks Preservation Commission landmarked 135 Bowery (Broome/Grand Streets), an 1817 federal house with significant surviving architectural details and an incredible history. Though just outside of our geographic area, because of GVSHP’s special history advocating for preservation of federal houses in Lower Manhattan, we feel strongly that this building, and other remarkable survivors like it, should be preserved.
While the landmark status afforded this building should protect and preserve it, the owner/developer of the property is seeking to have the City Council overturn the landmark designation. The Council does have the power to strip buildings of their landmark status – a power they have historically used exceedingly rarely, but in the recent past they have done with increasing frequency.
The City Council’s Landmarks Subcommittee will be holding a hearing and voting on whether or not to overturn the landmark designation tomorrow morning, Thursday September 15th at 11 am at 250 Broadway (at Park Place), 16th floor Committee Room. The three most important players in the decision as to whether or not the Council will ultimately overturn the designation will be City Councilmember Margaret Chin (in whose district 135 Bowery is located), Council Landmarks Subcommittee Chair Brad Lander, and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
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