New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission: Designation and Regulatory Process

Summary

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC or Commission) is a relatively small agency but it wields a great deal of power in the world of New York City real estate. For real estate lawyers, it is vitally important to know whether your client is purchasing or leasing a property that is or could be subject to landmarks regulation, and to be aware of the impact that this regulation might have on your client's plans. If your client's development plans include major alterations, enlargements, and/or a full or partial demolition, your client must understand that landmarks review can take time, require design changes, and sometimes prevent the full utilization of the property's development potential. This practice note describes the designation process for landmarks and LPC's regulatory scheme and provides practical information about how LPC works so that you can inform your clients and understand how to address landmarks issues when they arise.