named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
HDC@LPC
Weekly review and public testimony on all proposals affecting historic districts and landmarks in New York City, produced by HDC’s Public Review Committee
Landmarks Lion Award
Annual fundraising event honoring individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to historic preservation in New York City
Preservation School
Annual series of eight classes covering the essentials of historic preservation, including restoration, policy, and community organizing; past lectures are available on HDC’s YouTube channel
Six to Celebrate
Citywide initiative that highlights preservation priorities identified by local communities; provides selected groups with hands-on support in research, zoning, landmarking, and public outreach
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Historic Site Designation Advocacy 2 activities
- Advocates for citywide preservation policiesEngages in direct advocacy and public policy initiatives, including advocating for the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan, contributing to a City Council vote in August 2025, and participating in community events to advance preservation goals.
- Provides testimony and advocacy to the Landmarks Preservation CommissionProvides regular public testimony to the Landmarks Preservation Commission on historic district designations, preservation issues, and specific Certificate of Appropriateness applications, such as for West Park Presbyterian Church at 165 West 86th Street. Testimony is provided on a weekly basis and includes advocacy on broader policy matters.
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Local History Preservation and Education 2 activities
- Conducts community outreach and education on landmarksEngages in education and preservation activities related to landmarks and historic sites, including community outreach, walking and bicycle tours of historically significant neighborhoods, and promoting public engagement with preservation.
- Offers educational courses and capacity-building resourcesProvides ongoing education in historic preservation through an annual series of eight Preservation School classes covering core topics such as planning, zoning, and preservation law, with archived lectures available online. Also develops curricula such as the Community as Classroom guide and offers hands-on assistance to over 500 community-based organizations.
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Urban Policy and Equity Research 1 activity
- Conducts and publishes research on historic preservationProduces original research, reports, and publications on topics including the impacts of New York City’s landmarks law, adaptive reuse of historic structures, affordable housing in historic districts, and the cultural significance of preservation. Projects include the 2025 Preservation Conference summary report, the illustrated report on new housing in historic districts, and studies such as “A Proven Success” and “BEYOND BRICKS AND MORTAR.”
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Policy Advocacy & Research 1 activity
- Issues weekly advocacy alertsSends weekly action alerts on matters affecting historic preservation in New York City, enabling public engagement and mobilization on policy issues.
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Historic Site Public Programming 1 activity
- Organizes public educational programs and eventsHosts more than two dozen public programs annually, including lectures, conferences, workshops, tours, and social events focused on historic preservation, NYC history, and community organizing. These include biweekly public programming and low-cost events to promote broad public engagement.
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Archival Digitization and Preservation 1 activity
- Produces and maintains digital preservation resourcesProvides public access to over 30 walking tour videos, 50 Preservation School classes, and 30 Preservation Conference panel videos through its YouTube channel, expanding access to educational content on historic preservation.
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Industry and Community Recognition Awards 1 activity
- Recognizes preservation efforts through annual awardsHosts the annual Grassroots Preservation Awards and the Landmarks Lion Award ceremony to honor activists, groups, and individuals who have made significant contributions to the preservation of New York City’s historic neighborhoods and buildings.
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Neighborhood Civic Engagement 1 activity
- Supports community-led preservation initiativesRuns the “Six to Celebrate” program, launched in 2011, which highlights preservation priorities identified by local communities across New York City. Engages in preservation work with over 500 neighborhoods and provides direct support to community-based organizations.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$756K
Contributions & grants$668K88%
Program service revenue$8K1%
Investment income$33K4%
Other revenue$47K
expenses
Total expenses$732K
Program expenses65%
Admin / overhead22%
Fundraising14%
Salaries & benefits$451K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.65M
Cash$419K
Investments$2.12M
Liabilities$519K
Net assets$2.13M
Liquid reserves41.6 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -26.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRAMPTON TOLBERT | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 45 | $120K |
board members · 18
- ALISON GREENBERG — Director
- ANDREW SCOTT DOLKART — Director
- BRENDAN COBURN — Director
- CHARU CHAUDHRY — Director
- DANA SCHULZ — Director
- DOREEN GALLO- LTD 6-24 — Director
- FRANCOISE BOLLACK — Director
- GEORGE CALDERARO -7-24 — Secretary
- KELLY CARROLL 6-24 — Director
- KYLE JOHNSON — Director
- LAURA HEIM 6-24 — Director
- LORNA NOWVE 7-24 — Vice President
- MIRIAM BERMAN -LTD 6-24 — Director
- NICOLE LYTLE - End 6-24 — Director
- ONDEL HYLTON - End 6-24 — Director
- ROBERT J KORNFELD - LTD 6-24 — Director
- SUSAN HOPPER — Director
- SUSAN TUNICK 6-24 — Director
relationships · 29
Who they work with
- Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners Partner — Honored with the Landmarks Lion Award in 2004 for contributions to preservation.
- Boston Valley Terra Cotta Partner — Honored with the Landmarks Lion Award in 2018 for contributions to preservation.
- Bronx Music Heritage Center Partner — Collaborated with or acknowledged HDC’s role in advancing cultural preservation in The Bronx.
- City Lore Partner — Collaborates on projects highlighting cultural and architectural history, particularly in the Bronx.
- City Lore Partner — Recognized HDC’s work in documenting and promoting the Bronx’s cultural and architectural history through joint or complementary initiatives.
- Columbia University Partner — Academic collaboration through preservation education and alumni engagement.
- DUMBO Neighborhood Alliance Partner — Collaborated with HDC in efforts to establish DUMBO as a historic district, with HDC providing testimony and strategic guidance.
- Darren Walker and the Ford Foundation Partner — Honored jointly with the Landmarks Lion Award in 2021 for contributions to preservation.
- Friends of Lamartine Place & Gibbons Underground Railroad Site Partner — Received guidance from HDC on creating a historic district, including architectural, political, and media strategy support.
- Friends of Terra Cotta Partner — Honored with the Landmarks Lion Award in 2018 for contributions to preservation.
- Friends of the Upper East Side Partner — Collaborates on preservation education initiatives and community-based advocacy.
- Garment and Fashion Businesses Partner — Collaborates with garment and fashion businesses in advocacy efforts for the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan.
- Gladding, McBean Partner — Honored with the Landmarks Lion Award in 2018 for contributions to preservation.
- Jeffrey Greene and EverGreene Architectural Arts Partner — Honored jointly with the Landmarks Lion Award in 2017 for contributions to preservation.
- Landmarks Preservation Commission Government — Monitors the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and submits formal testimony on proposals affecting historic properties.
- Landmarks Preservation Commission Government — Regularly provides testimony to the Landmarks Preservation Commission on preservation matters.
- Landmarks Preservation Commission Government — Regularly submits testimony and engages with the LPC on historic district designations and preservation policy.
- Landmarks Preservation Commission Government — Submits testimony to the Landmarks Preservation Commission on Certificate of Appropriateness applications
- Municipal Art Society Partner — Historical and ongoing partnership, including shared origins and committee collaboration.
- NYU Partner — Collaborates on teaching historic preservation and developing educational programming.
- New York Landmarks Conservancy Partner — Collaborative relationship through shared leadership and program development in historic preservation.
- NoHo Historic District; NoHo East; and NoHo Extension Partner — Partnered with HDC during the historic district designation process, benefiting from HDC’s strategic input and advocacy.
- Other Preservation Organizations Partner — Partners with other preservation organizations to advocate for equitable urban development.
- Pratt Institute Partner — Longstanding academic partnership through teaching in the School of Architecture.
- Welcome2TheBronx Partner — Grateful for HDC’s advocacy on behalf of Bronx communities facing gentrification, particularly in highlighting endangered neighborhoods.
- Welcome2TheBronx Partner — Partners to advocate for the preservation of endangered communities in the Bronx amid gentrification.
- West End Preservation Society Partner — Received direct support and inclusion in a broader preservation network from HDC during their preservation efforts.
- YouTube Network — Hosts educational content on its YouTube channel to share NYC's architectural and cultural history
- community-based neighborhood partner organizations Partner — Receives hands-on assistance and support from HDC in historic preservation efforts.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Coalition-Based Civic Mobilizationmethodology: civic_mobilizationBy activating citywide networks and diverse coalitions through action alerts and coordinated advocacy, we amplify community voices in urban planning decisions because collective action increases political pressure and broadens public legitimacy for preservation goals.
- Community-Empowered Preservation Advocacymethodology: community-empowermentBy equipping and connecting local community groups with technical guidance, shared strategies, and public recognition, we strengthen grassroots preservation efforts because empowered communities produce more sustainable and politically viable advocacy outcomes.
- Education as Preservation Advocacymethodology: public-educationBy providing accessible public education—through digital content, case studies, and analysis of preservation benefits—we build broader support for historic districts because informed communities are more likely to engage in and defend preservation policies.
- Institutional Accountability through Systemic Advocacymethodology: institutional_advocacyBy systematically monitoring development proposals and submitting formal testimony at regulatory bodies like the Landmarks Preservation Commission, we ensure preservation standards are upheld because consistent, evidence-based institutional engagement shapes policy implementation and deters non-compliant development.