The recent changes that the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation has proposed to gut Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act are outrageous and will affect historic sites throughout the country. But what is Section 106 and why should we care about it?
Section 106 is a federally required review process that takes place when government funds or permits are likely to impact historic resources. Thousands of Section 106 reviews occur each year that the general public is not aware of, but this process quietly determines the fate of historic sites. The heart of this process involves consultation between federal, state, and municipal agencies, tribal representatives, and community organizations. The consultation process allows Americans to have a voice in how their tax dollars physically affect their communities. Organizations like the Landmarks Conservancy participate in these reviews as Consulting Parties, and we do our best to make sure alternatives are considered before historic resources are impacted and how those impacts should be mitigated. Through the consultation process, government projects are improved, and historic resources are preserved.
While you may not have been aware of it, Section 106 routinely has an impact on the character of New York City. For example, Section 106 review had to happen for Governor’s Island to be transferred from the military to City ownership, and now the island’s historic buildings actively serve arts, culture, science, and educational organizations that benefit New Yorkers. The TWA Terminal was abandoned at JFK Airport, but Section 106 Review identified it as an important historic resource that could be reused rather than demolished. Today it is a hotel where tourists and locals are immersed in Eero Saarinen’s Jet Age design. The grand Alexander Hamilton U.S. Customs House at Bowling Green was once vacant and without a use; it was after Section 106 Review that it was repurposed as the Smithsonian’s Museum of the American Indian in 1994. Thanks to Section 106 Review, the Moynihan Post Office was restored and transformed into a bustling train hall that has created a more pleasant commute for tens of thousands of commuters and travelers every day. The Section 106 Review process has just begun for the renovation of Penn Station, and we must save Section 106 to make sure New Yorkers still have input on the new redesign.
The proposed changes have been submitted to the federal Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs for its review. When that is completed, the new rules will be published in the Federal Register, and there will be a 30-day public comment period. However, if you care about New York’s and America’s history, it is important to speak out now against the proposed changes to Section 106 so that communities still have a seat at the table. Preservation organizations around the country are mobilizing to get the word out and get elected officials to respond to public outcry on this issue.
ACT NOW!
Join us by contacting U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Governor Kathy Hochul, and Attorney General Letitia James. Please also reach out to your U.S. Representative. If you aren’t sure who that is, check here.
Ask them to oppose changes to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Tell them historic preservation matters. Public review matters. And changes curtail the State’s right to know about and influence federally-funded projects.