Renovating a Landmarked Co-op or Condo? It's Now Gotten Easier

For one thing, boards now have a list of work that does not require an application. The majority of these exceptions are, not surprisingly, internal and not aesthetic, such as rubbish compactors, emergency generators, removal of interior partitions and various plumbing and pipe work. Here's a fact sheet for you.

FasTrack and XCNE

As well, to speed things up, the LPC now has an additional special application processes. The newest one is “FasTrack” filing, which applies to six specific types of repairs, including both indoor and outdoor work. The LPC says applications for this work will be approved within 10 days, as long as the paperwork is in order and your building has no outstanding LPC violations. Projects eligible for FasTrack include interior alterations on the first floor and certain work on secondary and non-visible facades. 

The previous expedited application is an Expedited Certificate of No Effect (XCNE). This application enables boards to expedite interior work as long it doesn't involve window replacement or penetrating exterior walls or the roof, and if the space is not an interior landmark, among other criteria.

The commission reports that 30 percent of the applications it receives are now either FasTrack or XCNE.

And for landmark hunters, the city has an interactive map that allows users to plug in their address (or even just a ZIP code) to find all of the landmarked neighborhoods, buildings and interiors in a given area. Now that’s bringing history into the 21st century.  

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Photo courtesy Landmarks Preservation Commission. Click to enlarge. Fact sheet courtesy RAND Engineering & Architecture.