The Historical Society of the New York Courts has long been involved in exploring the intersection of the law and art and architecture, particularly in courthouses and the messages the art in courthouses say about the judicial process. However, there is still so much to dive into in preservation and the law.
Enter Wrecking Ball: Tales of Preservation, the Law, and the Places New Yorkers Love.
This is something podcast host Adrian Untermyer is truly passionate about. He is an attorney, urbanist, and historian working at the crossroads of historic preservation, the law, and the American city who comes from a long line of preservationists. One of his earliest projects with the Society was serving as editor-in-chief and co-author of the legal history of New York County. He previously served as deputy director of the Historic Districts Council, and currently works in-house as an attorney in the transportation sector.
On August 16, 2023, Village Preservation hosted Wrecking Ball: How Government Has Shaped New York’s Defining Preservation Battles, an event to launch the series. It featured a presentation by Adrian along with a conversation with Andrew Berman at the historic Jefferson Market Library (a former courthouse). The program covered some important moments of historic preservation, major figures in ensuring access to these important sites, and the future of the field.
