Simeon Bankoff
Encyclopedia
Simeon Bankoff is the current executive director of a New York
, USA, not-for-profit organization, the Historic Districts Council
. HDC strives to preserve the history of New York City by advocating for the protection of historic buildings and neighborhoods. This mission is pursued through ongoing programs of community outreach and education, public policy initiatives and hands-on advocacy support for community preservationists. Mr. Bankoff has been executive director of the organization since November 2000.
During his tenure, the Historic Districts Council has been at the forefront of numerous historic preservation campaigns – such as the drive to save the formerly industrial neighborhoods of Brooklyn’s waterfront
, the protection of Lower Manhattan’s unprotected historic buildings, fighting out-of-scale development along Central Park and advocating for the preservation of low-density historic neighborhoods in Queens
. HDC has also become involved with campaigns to preserve a number of individual buildings, such as the Trylon Theater in Queens, 2 Columbus Circle
in Manhattan and the Lady Moody House in Brooklyn. In addition to helping communities throughout the five boroughs, HDC has also been active in working to promote legislation to help preserve New York’s unprotected historic buildings as well as producing regular educational programs on history and preservation in New York City. In 2003, Bankoff became the subject of several news headlines when he strongly opposed the demolition of the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle in Harlem
.
The Archdiocese of New York, under the administration of Cardinal Edward Egan, executed what Bankoff referred to as an "anti-landmark policy" by partially destroying the centuries-old Gothic
church in order to clear the site for residential development in August 2004.
Previous to becoming Executive Director of the Historic Districts Council, Bankoff worked for a number of other historic preservation organizations in New York City: including the Historic House Trust
where he worked to acquire 18th and 19th Century farmhouses for the city, and the New York Landmarks Preservation Foundation, where he helped initiate the Cultural Medallions plaque program which commemorate the residences of notable New Yorkers such as Jack Kerouac
, Frank O'Hara
, George Gershwin
and Edna St. Vincent Millay
.
A life-long resident of Brooklyn, Bankoff holds a BA from Sarah Lawrence College. He is the oldest son of archaeologist H. Arthur Bankoff.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA, not-for-profit organization, the Historic Districts Council
Historic Districts Council
The Historic Districts Council was founded in 1971 as a coalition of community groups from the city’s designated historic districts—of which there were only 18 at the time—primarily to work on special projects and networking...
. HDC strives to preserve the history of New York City by advocating for the protection of historic buildings and neighborhoods. This mission is pursued through ongoing programs of community outreach and education, public policy initiatives and hands-on advocacy support for community preservationists. Mr. Bankoff has been executive director of the organization since November 2000.
During his tenure, the Historic Districts Council has been at the forefront of numerous historic preservation campaigns – such as the drive to save the formerly industrial neighborhoods of Brooklyn’s waterfront
DUMBO, Brooklyn
Dumbo, an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It encompasses two sections: one located between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, which connect Brooklyn to Manhattan across the East River, and another that continues...
, the protection of Lower Manhattan’s unprotected historic buildings, fighting out-of-scale development along Central Park and advocating for the preservation of low-density historic neighborhoods in Queens
Sunnyside Gardens, Queens
Sunnyside Gardens, in the Sunnyside neighborhood of the New York City borough of Queens, was one of the first developments to incorporate the "superblock" model in the United States...
. HDC has also become involved with campaigns to preserve a number of individual buildings, such as the Trylon Theater in Queens, 2 Columbus Circle
2 Columbus Circle
2 Columbus Circle is a small, trapezoidal lot on the south side of Columbus Circle in Manhattan, New York City, USA.The seven-story Pabst Grand Circle Hotel, designed by William H. Cauvet, stood at this address from 1874 until it was demolished in 1960...
in Manhattan and the Lady Moody House in Brooklyn. In addition to helping communities throughout the five boroughs, HDC has also been active in working to promote legislation to help preserve New York’s unprotected historic buildings as well as producing regular educational programs on history and preservation in New York City. In 2003, Bankoff became the subject of several news headlines when he strongly opposed the demolition of the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
.
The Archdiocese of New York, under the administration of Cardinal Edward Egan, executed what Bankoff referred to as an "anti-landmark policy" by partially destroying the centuries-old Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
church in order to clear the site for residential development in August 2004.
Previous to becoming Executive Director of the Historic Districts Council, Bankoff worked for a number of other historic preservation organizations in New York City: including the Historic House Trust
Historic House Trust
The Historic House Trust of New York City was formed in 1989 as a public-private partnership with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation to preserve the historic houses located within New York City parks, although most of the houses were not originally city-owned...
where he worked to acquire 18th and 19th Century farmhouses for the city, and the New York Landmarks Preservation Foundation, where he helped initiate the Cultural Medallions plaque program which commemorate the residences of notable New Yorkers such as Jack Kerouac
Jack Kerouac
Jean-Louis "Jack" Lebris de Kerouac was an American novelist and poet. He is considered a literary iconoclast and, alongside William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, a pioneer of the Beat Generation. Kerouac is recognized for his spontaneous method of writing, covering topics such as Catholic...
, Frank O'Hara
Frank O'Hara
Francis Russell "Frank" O'Hara was an American writer, poet and art critic. He was a member of the New York School of poetry.-Life:...
, George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
and Edna St. Vincent Millay
Edna St. Vincent Millay
Edna St. Vincent Millay was an American lyrical poet, playwright and feminist. She received the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, and was known for her activism and her many love affairs. She used the pseudonym Nancy Boyd for her prose work...
.
A life-long resident of Brooklyn, Bankoff holds a BA from Sarah Lawrence College. He is the oldest son of archaeologist H. Arthur Bankoff.