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preservationist.bsky.social @preservationist.bsky.social · 1d

Really crazy stat from the NYC Charter Revision Commission's final report: In 1960 when NYC changed it's zoning code ~10% of congress was from NY, today its ~6% and only expected to decline

In 1960, the last time New York City comprehensively changed
its land use policy, New York voters elected 9.5% of the House
of Representatives.32 Today, New York elects only 6%, with
recent population estimates suggesting New York will lose
another two seats by 2030.33 This trend highlights a broader
shift in New York City’s history, with the city growing more
slowly than the country at large.
The result is a city with less and less say in our nation’s capital.
So long as the city continues to rely on the federal government
for support — from investments in NYCHA, to new subway
lines, health care, and more — maintaining a meaningful
federal presence is critical. To retain its power on the national
stage, New York City must embrace, and plan for, growth.

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Open New York @opennewyork.org · 4d

Weird choice of location to rally for member deference

Tweet from Jeff Coltin:

We’re at Essex Crossing, and Speaker Adams said council negotiations got the community benefits like this park. But it’s an interesting choice, since the blocks were infamously empty for *50 YEARS* b/c a local pol opposed development. The ballot props are meant to counter that.

[Screenshot of NYT headline: They Kept a Lower East Side Lot Vacant for Decades]

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preservationist.bsky.social @preservationist.bsky.social · 5d

You'll see that this one is really clean unlike some of the others: www.protectadks.org/debate-over-...

Debate over amendments to Article 14 in the NYS Constitution in 2020, Part 1: amendments have come to be a necessary tool for managing the Adirondack Park - Protect the Adirondacks!

Article 14, Section 1, of the New York Constitution, the famed “Forever Wild” provision, has been amended 16 times since 1938. It has been amended five times since 2007, making this period the most ac...

www.protectadks.org

preservationist.bsky.social @preservationist.bsky.social · 5d

it's a full time position w/ advice and consent of the senate!

preservationist.bsky.social @preservationist.bsky.social · 5d

I mean there are preservationists who want to change this. The former chair of the federal preservation agency wrote a 600 page report about how out-of-touch the standards are: www.achp.gov/sites/defaul...

www.achp.gov

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preservationist.bsky.social @preservationist.bsky.social · 5d

Every single group is a "yes" on Prop 1. It's not downhill ski trails, but xc ski trails so it's less odious to me too! Also it's kinda insane that to cut down a tree for a new path we need to amend the constitution, but that's just the way "Forever Wild" works.

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preservationist.bsky.social @preservationist.bsky.social · 5d

I would say neither are "pencils." The one downtown should be bigger, but zoning doesn't allow it. We actually don't know what the ABC site one will look like yet, but it's a lot of floor area so will probably be quite big (although it will also be tall)

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preservationist.bsky.social @preservationist.bsky.social · 6d

And as a historic preservationists who believes that building housing is key to solving the housing crisis this sucks. We have an incredible voice, are trusted by so many people, and we're just pissing it all away because it turns out that our leaders are just NIMBYs.

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preservationist.bsky.social @preservationist.bsky.social · 6d

But today preservationists are in the NYTimes saying that as-of-right development in two of the whitest and wealthiest neighborhoods in NYC shouldn't be permitted because the buildings (in NYC of all places!) are too tall.

Really gives the game away. Historic preservation isn't about preservation.

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preservationist.bsky.social @preservationist.bsky.social · 6d

In the face of an overwhelming housing crisis historic preservationists are fighting a losing battle that suggests housing should go somewhere else. At least when the proposed development is in a historic district there's some plausibility for that...

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preservationist.bsky.social @preservationist.bsky.social · 6d

Most people like historic preservation. People think Brooklyn Heights is cute! But when all they see is Andrew Berman railing against new development they're start to hate historic preservation. When historic preservationists get ADUs banned in historic districts people start to ask questions.

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preservationist.bsky.social @preservationist.bsky.social · 6d

Both of these developments are as-of-right (meaning the current zoning allows them) and are notably NOT in historic districts. Instead of focusing on historic preservation, the non-profit groups keep picking fights outside their wheelhouse that only alienates more people from their actual missions.

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preservationist.bsky.social @preservationist.bsky.social · 6d

My kingdom for a city that has historic preservationists who want to talk about historic preservation instead of their aversion to tall buildings.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/n...

In a city where expensive supertalls have punched through the skyline, that question is being raised by Andrew Berman, the executive director of Village Preservation, a group that focuses on architecture in Greenwich Village, the East Village and NoHo. His target is a 30-story condominium tower planned for West 13th Street.

That is so tall that Sean Khorsandi, the executive director of the local preservation group Landmark West!, said that the tower would be “head and shoulders above its context,” meaning other buildings in the neighborhood.

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preservationist.bsky.social @preservationist.bsky.social · 8d

Continually in awe of how thoughtful these proposals are....bluesky buyouts, small changes to make raising a street easier in areas that flood. The housing stuff is obviously extremely important, but there's also so much small niche technocrat stuff that will just make gov work better

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preservationist.bsky.social @preservationist.bsky.social · 8d

Hasn't gotten much attention, but the 2025 Ballot Charter Proposals (specifically Q3) would also make it easier to do this kind of buy-out in the future

The proposal would also allow ELURP for voluntary buyouts
from homeowners of one- to four-family homes within the
100-year flood plain upon enactment, and also voluntary
buyouts as subsequently authorized through a buyout
program created by local law. This change would significantly
streamline the process for owners who want to get out of
harm’s way and do not wish to wait for the years it can take
to initiate and complete a full ULURP. For obvious reasons,
there is little or no private market for these homes.
Acquisitions of any properties would also be possible via
ELURP in an area declared by the federal government to be a
disaster and within five years of the declaration.

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Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 10d

Yom Kippur is a day of reflection, of forgiveness, of restoration. This year, may we all pray for a better, kinder, more peaceful future.

Wishing all who observe across the five boroughs and the world a meaningful, easy fast. G’mar chatimah tovah.

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southpaw @nycsouthpaw.bsky.social · 13d

An abortive attempt at a Kavanaugh Stop.

WuTangIsForTheChildren @wutangforchildren.bsky.social · 13d

ICE Nazis in Chicago tried to kidnap a food delivery worker but my man was too fast for those slow bastards

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Nicholas Grossman @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social · 14d

With Pete Davidson getting a big check to do the Riyadh Comedy Festival, the Saudis are finally paying reparations for 9/11.

And jokes like that aren’t allowed at the Riyadh Comedy Festival.

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THE CITY @thecity.nyc · 15d

“The proposals on the ballot could make a big difference for affordable housing.”

Housing Advocates Target City Council’s Power to Kill Development

Voters will soon decide whether to create a new, fast-tracked process for approving some housing projects, bypassing a frequently naysaying Council and its tradition of deferring to local members on…

buff.ly

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preservationist.bsky.social @preservationist.bsky.social · 15d

no

preservationist.bsky.social @preservationist.bsky.social · 18d

The alt text is so good:

"he is not blending in"

Lux "Nightmare" Alptraum @luxalptraum.com · 18d

You guys do yourself a favor and look at what Eric Adams wore to Rosh Hashanah services at the Sephardic Lebanese Congregation

Eric Adams surrounded by members of the Sephardic Lebanese Congregation. He is wearing a blue velvet jacket that is embroidered with gold Magen David’s and other Jewish seeming patterns, including multiple menorahs. Everyone else is just in button down shirts or normal suits. He is not blending in.

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preservationist.bsky.social @preservationist.bsky.social · 18d

@thecut.com get me this profile 5 minutes ago. @nymag.com literally what are you doing?! i need to know what this staffer thinks about truly everything.

Stephen Lurie @luriethereal.bsky.social · 18d

superb and sublime

preservationist.bsky.social @preservationist.bsky.social · 18d

I assume that this captures situations where a rezoning was split across multiple districts so it wouldn't surprise me if this was split between the CMs

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preservationist.bsky.social @preservationist.bsky.social · 18d

It's shockingly infrequent....To argue that this is a sea-change is laughable

Examples of Member Deference Being Over-Ruled in ULURP Actions Since 2000:60

Year ULURP # Description Category
2021 210351ZMM New York Blood Center Commercial
2009 090403 PSQ New York Police Academy City Project
2009 090184 ZSK Dock Street Development Residential / Mixed-use
2009 090415 HUK Broadway Triangle Rezoning Residential / Mixed-use
2009 090470 PPQ College Point Corporate Park Commercial
2007 070315 (A) ZRQ Jamaica Rezoning Residential / Mixed-use
2007 20095400 SCQ Maspeth High School City Project
2004 040217 ZSK Watchtower Development Residential / Mixed-use
2004 040445 ZSM Harlem Park Hotel Commercial
2003 030158 PSK NYCEM Headquarters City Project
2002 010602 ZSM Special Permit for a Manhattan Parking Garage (Upper West Side) Other
2001 M 820995 Hotel near La Guardia Airport Commercial

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Mrs. Detective PikaBOO, Esq. @clapifyoulikeme.favrd.social · 22d

so this thread was about me www.gofundme.com/f/fund-me-if...

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