Inwood Historic District Passes City Council Committees

INWOOD, NY — Two New York City Council committees voted Wednesday to approve a new historic district in the Upper Manhattan neighborhood of Inwood, according to meeting records.

The council's land use committee and landmarks, public siting and maritime uses subcommittee voted unanimously to approve the proposed Park Terrace West-West 217th Street Historic Districts. The district, which incorporates fifteen homes on West 217th Street and Park Terrace West that were built between 1920 and 1935, was designated a landmark by the city Landmarks Preservation Commission in December.

The two-story homes — many with yards and garages — provide a contrast to the dense character of Manhattan and instead resemble homes in outer boroughs and the suburbs. The small scale of the area is due to the fact that the land was owned by large estate properties or farms until the 20th century, according to LPC researchers.

The historic district had the support of the local community board. The chair of the Community Board 12 land use committee said in December that the new district will hopefully pave the way for more landmarks and districts in Upper Manhattan neighborhoods such as Washington Heights and Inwood.

"For more than a decade we have encouraged LPC to advance the designation of historic districts and individual buildings throughout Washington Heights and Inwood. This is a start and we look forward to working with LPC to advance the designation of more historic districts," Benjamin said.

Community Board 12 has long pushed for more landmarks in Upper Manhattan, an area often overlooked by the city Landmarks Preservation Commission. The board's resolution on a controversial plan to rezone Inwood, which passed in 2018, called for more landmarks in Inwood based on both historic and cultural importance.

The homes of the Park Terrace West-West 217th Street Historic Districts were designed by architects Moore & Landsiedel, Benjamin Driesler, Louis Kurtz, C. G. de Neergaard and A. H. Zacharius, according to a commission report. Most of the homes are two-story red-brick buildings designed in the Tudor Revival and Colonial Revival styles and many feature front yards.

The full City Council will vote on the historic district during its April 9 meeting. On issues of land use and landmarking the council generally defers to local representatives. City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, who represents Inwood, is not on either of the committees that voted Wednesday, but previously spoke in support of the district when it was designated in December.