04

Achieving Landmark Designation For The Church Of St. Thomas More

Landmark:

Church of St. Thomas More

Location:

65 E 89th Street

Summary of Project

The Gothic-style holy structure is the oldest standing institution in Carnegie Hill and the second oldest church on the Upper East Side. St. Thomas More Church is closely modeled after Edward Buckton Lamb's Church of St. Martin's, Gospel Oak, London (see Gospel Oak), built in 1865. It has almost every little quirky detail of the London church.

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) was created in 1965 with the goal to manage the Landmarks Preservation Law that would protect and standardize historical, architectural and cultural structures all over the city.

But landmark status approval, granted by the LPC, is not easy to obtain. The process requires two hearings.

EARLY 2015

The community board heard CHN’s appeal and approved it, checking off step one of the process for achieving landmark status for the church.

LATE 2015

After being presented more than 3,000 petition letters demonstrating community support landmarking St. Thomas More, Council Member Dan Garodnick and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer enthusiastically committed to support CHN’s campaign. Their backing will be an enormous help as we go forward to the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2018.