Historic District Designation Angers Some Homeowners

Where should the landmarks commission draw the line when limiting homeowners' ability to make changes to their historic homes?

1 minute read

January 18, 2006, 7:00 AM PST

By David Gest


"Like many homeowners in this upscale neighborhood of flagstone paths and huge old trees, sheltering early-1900's Tudor, Colonial and Mediterranean houses, [one homeowner in the Fieldston neighborhood in the northwest Bronx] was adjusting to a new reality. On Tuesday, the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to make Fieldston a historic district, limiting the changes homeowners can make to their houses' exteriors in a 140-acre area comprising 257 houses."

"'Landmarks says this light is historic,' [he] said. 'What they're signaling is, "Hey, when you want to change this, we want to weigh in. You can't just change it."' He paused. 'That's the stuff that I personally find the most annoying, the little stuff. You don't get the benefit of owning a house.'"

Sunday, January 15, 2006 in The New York Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 7, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

People biking along beach path with moored ship in San Diego, California.

San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan

The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.

May 2, 2025 - SD News

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Pump station with blue pipes coming out of concrete wall in Seattle, Washington.

Seattle Builds Subway-Sized Tunnel — for Stormwater

The $700 million ‘stormwater subway’ is designed to handle overflows during storms, which contain toxic runoff from roadways and vehicles.

4 hours ago - City Observatory

Sign for Deschutes National Forest in Oregon.

Feds Clear Homeless Encampment in Oregon Forest

The action displaced over 100 people living on national forest land near Bend, Oregon.

6 hours ago - The New York Times

Seeing the Better City

Is This Urbanism?

Chuck Wolfe ponders a recommended subscription list of Substack urbanists and wonders — as have others — about the utility of the "urbanist" moniker.

7 hours ago - Resurgence: A Journey via Substack

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.