By Leslie Albrecht
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
UPPER WEST SIDE — Plans to create a massive historic district along graceful West End Avenue will move forward Tuesday with a public hearing at the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
The 12:30 p.m. hearing is the first of three on the proposed zoning, which would include more than 800 buildings.
The historic district would stretch between 109th and 70th streets and include side streets between West End Avenue and Riverside Drive, along with parts of Broadway.
Tuesday's hearing will focus on the southern end of the district, between West 79th and West 87th streets.
Though critics complain that historic districts halt growth and development, preservationists say the historic district will improve property values.
They also say such districts don't freeze the neighborhood in time, but ensure that the area's unique character is preserved while allowing for change.
"We don't want a time capsule, we want to keep the same sense of character and the same sense of place," said Josette Amato, spokeswoman for the West End Preservation Society. "We're looking ... to keep the same quality going, and one way to do that is to have an historic district."
The neighborhood includes many 19th-century buildings with historic flourishes such as grilles and cornices.
The Real Estate Board of New York has criticized the proposed district, in part because they say preservationists haven't made a compelling argument for why the area should be singled out for historic status.
"There are a lot of buildings there and we're trying to understand why they're being designated," said REBNY Senior Vice President Mike Slattery. "Broadway doesn't have anywhere near the same character as Riverside Drive. It's unclear what the basis for the designation is and what's so distinctive about this neighborhood."
REBNY has said the district could stall development and mean less revenue and jobs for the city. But Amato said historic districts create jobs when older buildings are restored, sometimes putting craftsmen such as stone cutters and woodworkers to work.
The West End Preservation Society and Landmark West! are encouraging supporters to attend the hearing and testify in support of the proposed district. In addition to e-mail blasts and postcard mailings, advocates will hand out flyers this weekend to people on the street.
Amato said testimony from the public can help sway the Landmarks Preservation Commission in favor of the historic district.
"They want to know that the community is behind this," Amato said. "If they don't feel there's community support and elected officials aren't supportive, there's a good chance it doesn't go any further."
