Crain’s event asks if landmarking is out of control
A cataclysm of divergent views sparred in a healthy (if occasionally contentions) forum sponsored by Crain’s New York Business. “Is Landmarking Out of Control?” brought together an array of prominent figures, from developers to preservationists and others involved in the industry.
Kenneth T. Jackson, Professor at Columbia University, was unrepentant in his rejection of most of preservationists’ claims.
“I have been leading tourists and teaching students for forty years,” Jackson said. ” I have never heard a single person say they wanted to go see a historic district.” For Jackson, these districts are a nuisance at best, and more likely pose obstacles that hurt growth and hold the city back.