: 1086104910

An official from the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission explained at a panel discussion in Queens this week why the borough only has seven of the city’s 200 landmarked houses of worship.

According to him, the borough has previously sent a clear message to his agency – “Get out, we don’t want you here.”
Mark Silberman, general counsel for the Commission, said at the May 20 discussion on landmarking issues facing religious institutions that in the past, Queens residents have opposed landmarking in their borough because of the restrictions it places on future construction.

In addition, he said that the City Council must affirm all landmarks designations, and said that if a Councilman’s constituents say no, he says no. Silberman said, “We need to work on politicians to explain this is not a policy issue,” and added, “but ultimately, I think there is a political component.”

He admitted that Queens residents are currently seeking landmarking, and urban planner Paul Graziano – another speaker on the panel at Trinity Lutheran Church in Astoria – said, “The Commission has been slow to change with the perception of landmarking that the residents have. The attitude by residents here has changed over the last decade and many many neighborhoods want landmarking and the Commission doesn’t seem to get it yet.”

Graziano emphasized that religious institutions in Queens are particularly affected. He said, “Because of a trend of older, mainstream congregations shrinking, it has become harder and harder for these congregations to care for their beautiful, historic facades. In some cases, there has been the beginning of a sell-off of their property.”

When something is landmarked, it cannot be demolished and all exterior work needs to be approved by the Landmarks Commission.

Silberman warned that landmarks designation should not be used as a tool to block unpopular development projects. “No people are interested in designation until there’s a threat,” he said. People should consider seeking landmark designation “before there’s a crisis,” he said.
“The key is to do this process outside these controversies,” said Silberman.

“Although its great to avoid controversies, it doesn’t always work out that way,” said Graziano.

One example of controversy in Queens is the Bowne Street Community Church in Flushing, which considered a plan to build an apartment complex in its parking lot and at the site of its current church, which would be torn down.

“What do you do when the church fits all the criteria” needed for landmarking, but “the church wants to be torn down, and wants to make money,” asked Linda Mandell, who lives near the Bowne Street Community Church in Flushing and has led the charge to get it landmarked. “Does the congregation just say OK, tear it down?”

Silberman explained that landmarking can be done without the congregation’s OK, although that is usually not done.