The Two Champions: History or Progress

Heated debate among historians and developers over whether the Upper East Side Historic District should be expanded to include parts of Lexington Avenue

By Suzanne Rachman

There are two sides to every story, and the debate over the architecture of the Upper East Side is no exception. It's a battle of David versus Goliath, except in this instance, David has the government on his side. The debate was sparked by the Department of Buildings report confirming that it had received a request for a permit to demolish the Kean House, which dates to the 1880s.

The building, which sits between East 65th Street and Lexington Avenue, stands just outside of the historic district established by the Landmarks Commission in 1981. Many people see that portion of Lexington Avenue as having a “sense of place”, one that the towering office and residential blocks of Park Avenue and other major thoroughfares in the city. Because of the historic nature of the buildings, it's more like the NYC of past days.

Friends of the Upper East Side Historic executive director Seri Worden has said that over 100 residents of the area ttended the community meeting on Monday, during which a proposal was drafted, designed to exert pressure on the Ladmarks Commission to rezone the boundaries of the historic district. The current district exists between East 59^th and 79^th streets. A spokesperson for the Landmarks Commission would say only that the district is being reviewed.

The demolition permit was requested by Davis Development, who plans to build a residential high-rise on the existing site of the Keans House. The development would have 50,000 square-feet of residential space, and would be between 15 and 20 stories tall. While many residents in the area do not support the demolition of what they deem a historic landmark, without the Landmarks Commission, there will be little to stop the wrecking ball.