Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
Q&A
Steven Chu responds to questions on hardship and demolition by neglect
0:43:44
·
3 min
Steven Chu, a commissioner for the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission, responds to Council Member Brewer's questions about granting hardship, defining demolition by neglect, and the LPC's ability to permit restoration without owner approval.
- Chu emphasizes the need for case-by-case review of hardship applications
- He mentions the use of expert analysis and structural engineers in evaluating claims
- Chu acknowledges the LPC's power to demand reparations for landmark buildings
Steven Chu
0:43:44
When is it appropriate to to, deem hardship?
0:43:48
Well, the Landmark Commission, has to accept every, application.
0:43:55
If if the application, asks for hardship, it is something that we have to review and look at the case that they're making.
0:44:03
I will say that every case is specific and the commissioners will look at all the information available to us.
0:44:10
We also recently have had an application that came to the commission.
0:44:15
It was a very robust process and had multiple hearings.
0:44:19
There was extensive testimony.
0:44:22
The commission had expert analysis.
0:44:24
We do have a engineer, structural engineer that we can turn to to look at and do our own investigation to solidify the claims of the applicant in terms of hardship.
0:44:39
In that case, the application was ultimately withdrawn.
0:44:44
If that were to come back again, we would have to carefully look at their case that they're making for hardship and review it and determine whether or not we feel that it was appropriate or not.
0:44:58
Should we go on to the next or do you wanna see if any
Gale A. Brewer
0:45:00
Demolition by neglect.
Steven Chu
0:45:02
Okay.
0:45:03
Demolition of neglect.
0:45:07
In terms of demolition, I would say that, again, in every case, we have to look at whether or not the the piece that's being asked to be demolished needs to be revealed to see what importance it has per the letter of law of what the designation was and how important that aspect or feature of the building, was to its designation.
0:45:32
If it was an important part of the designation, then, we would look at opposing that or seeing why it was being demolished and look at the case and and its specifics.
Gale A. Brewer
0:45:44
Well, sometimes the owner says one thing, and then the people who wanna keep it standing say something else.
0:45:49
So you're saying you have to look at it carefully.
Steven Chu
0:45:51
I think we'd have to investigate it.
0:45:53
And as I said before, if if the demolition is claimed or asked for because of neglect and condition of the of the building and its structure, that would need to be investigated.
0:46:04
And as I said prior, we would have somebody, a third party engineer, look at it.
0:46:08
The DOB also can provide us with engineers' expert opinions, at our request.
Gale A. Brewer
0:46:14
Okay.
0:46:15
And what can the DOB and LPC do to permit necessary restoration without the owner signing off?
Steven Chu
0:46:24
The Landmark Commission can and will protect a facility or a structure that is being protected and demand that it be, of course, being taken if the owner has left it in a neglect state.
Gale A. Brewer
0:46:39
So then you're saying if it's in neglect state by the owner, then somebody else could sign off?
Steven Chu
0:46:46
I'm sorry.
0:46:47
Could you ask that again?
Gale A. Brewer
0:46:48
If if, in fact, the owner hasn't taken care of the building.
0:46:52
All wanna save our landmarks.
Steven Chu
0:46:54
Landmarks can, again, I don't wanna speak out of hand if I legally do not understand this question.
0:47:03
My understanding is that we have the power to demand that certain, reparation be made to a landmark building.
Gale A. Brewer
0:47:10
Okay.
0:47:11
Thank you.