12/28/2004



Will Buffalo Learn this Lesson?

With a parking lot between them, the Samuel Tredwell Skidmore House, right, stands in forlorn contrast to another landmark building, the well preserved Merchant's House Museum, left.

It would seem that the Landmark Preservation Commission in Manhattan was fed up with the delay tactics of the owners and ended up last week with a court ruling that might set a precedent. Of course the cool thing here is that they didn’t seek to create new legislation, they vigorously enforced current law. Whether the precedent is even considered here in Buffalo, NY is another matter. The hurdle of course for the Woodlawn Row Houses is that the owner is the entity that should be enforcing the law, the City of Buffalo.

The full text of David W. Dunlop’s
December 28, 2004 New York Times article can be found here. The Samuel Tredwell House has been in the news before, here, here & here. Photographer and well known writer documenting New York's architechtural heritage, David's most recent work is currently on display at the New York Historical Society.

The Merchant's House Museum is located next door at
29 4th Street. They are open Thursday to Monday 12-5pm. The museum's website has numerous links to preservation groups, local historic and smart urban issues in Manhattan.

And don’t forget to check out New York City’s Landmark Commission. Here, permit decisions are available online!!

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