Each was a passionate preservationist and architect, who left a legacy of accomplishments.
By Sarah Carroll, Chair, Landmarks Preservation Commission
The Preservation and architectural community have recently suffered two great losses: architect and former Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) Chair Gene A. Norman and architect and former LPC Vice Chair Charles A. Platt, who passed away on August 30th and August 18th, respectively. Each was a passionate preservationist and architect, who left a legacy of accomplishments. While they are no longer with us, their legacies live on through their work.
Norman, who served as LPC Chair from 1983 to 1989, was the first full-time chairman appointed to the Commission, as well as the first African American chairman. He came to LPC from the Harlem Urban Development Corporation after working as an architect and for government agencies. As an architect, he recognized the importance of historic buildings and how they contributed to the city’s streetscapes. In 1984, he testified in Albany against the Flynn-Walsh Bill, which would have exempted religious properties from landmark designation. During his tenure, he worked hard to streamline the internal and the public hearing processes. He oversaw the designation of iconic landmarks like the Woolworth Building, the Apollo Theater, Rockefeller Center, and 34 Broadway Theaters (as well as the Theater Guidelines), among others, and historic districts like the Upper West Side/Central Park West Historic District, Riverside Drive-West 80th-81st Street Historic District, and Tudor City Historic District, among others. In addition, as Chairman, he was involved in rejecting the application by St. Bartholemew’s Church for a tower addition, which led to extensive litigation and important decisions upholding the Commission’s ability to regulate religious property. After he left the Commission, he continued to support preservation, as a member of several organizations, including the Municipal Art Society.
Platt served as an LPC commissioner from 1979 to 1984, working with Chair Norman during his last year at the Commission. He began his architectural practice, Platt Byard Dovell Architects in 1965, later Platt Byard Dovell White Architects. While he considered himself a modern architect, he strongly believed that all beautiful architecture should be protected and in the early days of the preservation movement he picketed to try to save Penn Station. His sensibility for historic architecture came from the legacy of previous generations of Platts, who designed historic buildings now protected in our historic districts and his uncle, Geoffrey, the Commission’s first Chair. His commitment to architecture and preservation led him to serve as Vice Chair at LPC, on the Gracie Mansion Conservancy board, the St. Augustus Sainte-Gaudens Memorial, and on the Board of Directors at The Municipal Art Society for over 50 years. During his tenure as LPC commissioner, the Commission designated the Lever House, the first Post-WWII Modern landmark, the Puck Building and the Prospect Park South Historic District, among others.
Both Gene Norman and Charles Platt will be greatly missed in the preservation and architectural community. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families.
About the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC)
The Landmarks Preservation Commission is the mayoral agency responsible for protecting and preserving New York City’s architecturally, historically and culturally significant buildings and sites. Since its creation in 1965, LPC has granted landmark status to more than 37,000 buildings and sites, including 1,437 individual landmarks, 120 interior landmarks, 11 scenic landmarks, and 150 historic districts and extensions in all five boroughs. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/landmarks and connect with us via www.facebook.com/NYCLandmarks and www.twitter.com/nyclandmarks.
