NY Landmarks Commission Does It Again

The Landmarks Commission has found another building they love. It's a small, one-story butcher shop on Staten Island. The small shop dates to the 19th century and has been a butcher shop, insurance office, and real-estate office.

by James R. Lindamood

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission has found another building worth saving, it seems. The NYCLPC has been on a rampage lately, seemingly finding new historic buildings and districts every day. Of course, the protection offered by such a ruling is help sacrosanct, and ensures that the landmarks will be here for generations to come. Tuesday's vote was unanimous, and made the former George C. Cunningham Store a historical landmark.

The small building is a single story Queen Anne style shop located on Main Street in Tottenville. The Staten Island landmark was part of the commercial boom on Staten Island in the 19^th century. Commission Chairman Robert Tierney called the building, “a truly visual gem, and combined with its role in the development of Tottenville, this shop undoubtedly deserves the recognition and protection that only landmark status can provide to the city's significant buildings and places.”

That's kind of a mouthful to describe such a small building, though it's certainly worthy of admiration. The building still has original clapboard siding, scale shingles and beautiful wood spindle work along the single roof gable. While the butcher shop closed in 1913, the building remains in near perfect shape.

At the same meeting, the commission approved the West Chelsea Historic District, a collection of distinctive buildings central to the city's manufacturing heritage. The new historic district is bordered by West 25 to 28^th Streets, and 10^th to 12^th Avenues. Also to receive the honor was Morningside Park in Manhattan. The park will be designated the city's 10^th scenic landmark, an honor received last by Fort Tryon Park in 1983.