Sample letters & testimony

These can be used to as inspiration (or as they stand) to:

Personally address, sign and mail in to the LPC

AND/OR

Print out as testimony for the October 30th Public hearing and present it by hand when you attend.

(*Download the sample testimonies and letters here.)

Robert Tierney, Chairperson
Landmarks Preservation Commission
1 Centre St., 9th Floor
New York, NY 10007
(Date)

Dear Chairperson Tierney:

I am a resident and property owner* and I support Landmark status for DUMBO without further delay. Furtive destruction of historically important 19th century industrial structures is happening right now! It is important to act immediately to save this vanishing treasure.
Sincerely,

Your Name & address
[*If you rent, or own a business, say so.]

ALTERNATE THEMES (please rephrase to suit your own style):

Dear Chairperson Tierney:

I bought my condo here in Dumbo x years ago, and I am discouraged to see these out of scale buildings going up, spoiling what was a delightful and very special community. I am not opposed to "progress", but please… we don't need another Manhattan-Between-the-Bridges!

I implore you to speed the Landmarking process, We're bleeding.

Dear Chairperson Tierney:

I don't know what's holding up the designation of DUMBO, but I suppose your schedule is crowded.
Still, we've been asking to be heard for years (at least seven that I know of), and had to sit helplessly by, while beautiful old buildings have been torn down and replaced with out-of-scale, inappropriate ones.
The special "look" of Dumbo has already been compromised. Please keep it from getting worse.

Dear Chairperson Tierney:

I own a condo in DUMBO, and I'd like to protect my investment and keep this community from being spoiled, as is happening with increasing speed. It is already very different from how it looked only a few years ago. Cobblestone streets are being vandalized by heedless, repaving. Old bluestone or granite slab sidewalks have been hauled away and replaced by cement ones. We complain to the utilities and the DOT to no avail. (It wouldn't even cost more to do it right—just a little care and oversight.) But nothing will help until we get Landmarked. Please speed the day.

Dear Chairperson Tierney:

I am for Landmarking, as are most of my neighbors and everyone I know.
I have heard that there is opposition from a small, influential group of builders and developers. They are entitled to their view, but I think they are misguided.
In any case, their financial investment in this community should not earn them any special deference. The collective investment by us (the residents who bought these condos and other apartments) is equal or greater. Inappropriate changes will harm us far more than it will them…and spoil a great place for residents to come.
Please move promptly to save this special place.

Dear Chairperson Tierney:

I am dismayed that it is taking so long to schedule a Landmark protection hearing for the Dumbo area
We need it badly, and soon. What must we do to speed the process? Circulate petitions? Hold protest meetings? Write letters to the press? I'll do whatever it takes! Time is running out.

Dear Chairperson Tierney:

Put me down as someone who accepts the need for change. Dumbo will grow as more people move in. More stores and services are welcome.
But I don't think this village needs to lose its special flavor in the process, which I'm afraid will happen (is happening!) unless we get designated by the LPC.
I implore you to start the process, and soon.

Dear Chairperson Tierney:

I own a property and I live and work here. I support having DUMBO landmarked.

Dear Chairperson Tierney:

Please do what you can to speed the landmarking process for DUMBO. I am discouraged by how much we have lost in the last few years. It is a crying shame––and I am crying.

(*Download the sample testimonies and letters here.)