Thursday, August 10, 2006

NEW YORK'S HISTORIC PRESERVATION MOVEMENT SERVES AS EXAMPLE FOR TAIWAN

Taipei, Aug. 9 (CNA) The historic preservation movement in New York serves as an excellent example for Taiwan, Taiwanese scholars said after a videoconference with a preservation leader Wednesday in Taipei.

Lee Chian-lang, a professor and historic buildings expert, and Ma Yi-kung, a professor at National Tsing Hua University, exchanged views and opinions with Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, chairwoman of the Historic Landmarks Preservation Center in a teleconference hosted by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).

The program, in conjunction with the Landmarks of New York photo exhibition now on display at the National Taiwan Museum, aimed to draw upon the experience of New York landmark preservation to tackle the importance of cultural heritage and historic legacies for a city or a country, while making progress toward the contemporary.

"Among American cities, New York is the leader in the preservation of its landmarks, and in the range and quality of its surviving architectural resources," said Diamonstein-Spielvogel.

"This year marks the 40th anniversary of the enactment of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Law. Since its passage on April 19, 1965, the result of an awareness of the increasing loss of New York's iconic historic, architectural and cultural monuments ... New York City has been in the forefront of what has become an established worldwide preservation movement," she said.

New York boasts 1,118 landmarks, 104 interior landmarks, 9 scenic landmarks and 84 historic districts.

While New York preserves interior and scenic landmarks, it seems Taiwan only preserves "buildings" -- although the awareness of historic preservation in Taiwan has been making headway, Lee said.

Lee also mentioned Taiwan should work on "minority preservation," which the New York program paid attention to in preserving some African burial grounds and aboriginal buildings.

"The preservation of our landmarks provides a sense of continuity between the past and present, and an appreciation of the accomplishments that outlast an individual life, " Diamonstein-Spielvogel said.

Representatives from the Department of Cultural Affairs of Taipei City and Taipei County asked about the problem of private property with historic value.

"It's a universal problem [dealing with private property]," she answered. "We should educate the public and let them know that we have only 'temporary custody' of the landmarks."

For compensation, the U.S. government also offers tax breaks for those who donate their private property, she added.

However, Diamonstein-Spielvogel pointed out that designated landmarks in New York's preservation program account for only less than two percent of "the buildings, property or objects that are at least thirty years old and have a special character, esthetic value or meaning" -- New York's definition of a landmark.

It means even New York has a long way to go, she said.