The Landmarks Preservation Commission marked the end of 2024 by releasing a list of key agency accomplishments over the past year, which included several initiatives in Brooklyn.
Among the highlights was the the creation of a new interactive audio tour, "More Than a Brook: Brooklyn Abolitionist Heritage Walk," that explores Brooklyn's history as a critical neighborhood for the national abolitionist movement and the Underground Railroad.
The LPC also designated the city's 157th historic district, the Willoughby-Hart Historic District located in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, which features distinctive late-19th century row houses lining Willoughby Avenue and Hart Street between Nostrand and Marcy Avenues.
The commission also designated the Brooklyn Edison Building, located at 345 Adams St., as an individual landmark. Designed by the prominent architects McKenzie, Voorhees & Gmelin and constructed between 1922-1926, the Renaissance Revival style office building is a notable landmark in the civic and commercial center of Brooklyn and a testament to the technological advancements that fueled Brooklyn's growth in the early 20th century.
The commission also said it prioritized equity and inclusion across all aspects of the agency's work, launched a permit application portal that made filing for permits faster and easier for building owners, unveiled a new climate resiliency initiative that will strengthen the city's sustainability capabilities and helped streamline the approval process for small business owners participating in the Dining Out NYC program.
"Historic preservation has a critical role to play as our city continues to evolve to meet the needs of New Yorkers," said Landmarks Preservation Commission Chair Sarah Carroll.
