On February 11, 2014, despite over a year of fighting to stop this, there will be a vote by the NYC Landmarks Commission to designate Harrison Street as a "Historical District."

While I appreciate the ideals that the commission stands for, as one of many middle and working class homeowners in this area, this move would be a great financial burden. A resident of this block asked for two quotes during a recent home improvement. When she had siding put up she was told regular siding would cost $45,000. The Historic approved siding would cost $120,000! As a young homeowner with a 3-year-old autistic child (plus another child on the way!) $45,000 would be hard enough. The latter price would be near impossible! Add on top of this the fact that I do not want NYC dictating what materials and colors I can choose to decorate my home. This is my home and I worked hard to own it.

We have kept this area stable and within the spirit of neighborhood without this NYC-initiated move. We homeowners wish it to remain this way. Let individual homeowners decide to apply for historic value for their own homes. Leave the fate of their property in their capable hands.

This petition is being sent to the Commissioners of the LPC in the hopes that the LPC will respect the REAL residents of the block (and not the members of Historical Societies who neither live on the block nor have any financial investment in the area) and vote to remove Harrison Street from consideration. At the very least we ask for a 2 year moratorium on such a vote. Barring that, we are also calling upon the members of NYC City Council to listen to your constituents and to overturn any designation. We also hope Mayor DeBlasio will investigate why the desires of historical societies are being considered paramount to the wishes of actual residents of the block.

We need your help! We constituents are calling upon you now to speak out on our behalf!