Include West 86th Street in the West End Avenue Historic District

We are very pleased to learn that the Landmarks Preservation Commission ("LPC") is considering the creation of an extended West End Avenue Historic District and is researching the inclusion of the neighboring side and cross streetsincluding West 86th Street. We strongly support the designation of West End Avenue as a Historic District, and respectfully request that the LPC include West 86th Street within the Historic District.

While a portion of West 86th Street is currently protected in historic districts, approximately three blocks of buildings along West 86th Street remain without protection. West 86th Street, with its graceful and majestic buildings, is worthy of being included in the proposed historic district. Indeed this street shares the unique uniformity of aesthetics, architectural history and cultural character of the buildings identified by Columbia University Professor Andrew Dolkart in his impressive survey of West End Avenue. In addition, it is one of the only cross streets in Manhattan that is almost exclusively residential.

A number of buildings on West 86th Street are particularly in need of protection from the LPC, including 330 West 86th Street and the century old C.P.H. Gilbert Brownstones (located at 272-278 West 86th Street). These historic buildings are currently for sale, and their listings specifically note that they are unprotected and can be demolished. The historic look and feel of these and many other beautiful and ornate buildings constructed over 100 years ago is becoming increasingly rare. We hope you will agree that any further demolition and replacement of historic buildings along West 86th Street would diminish a West End Avenue Historic District.

We commend the LPC for moving to preserve this wonderful Upper West Side neighborhood, and we respectively request that you include West 86th Street, from Riverside Drive to the edge of the Central Park Historic District, in the proposed West End Historic District. We thank you for the great work you do for our city, for recently designating West Park Presbyterian Church a New York City landmark, and for your consideration of this petition.