In a message dated 8/2/2000 2:16:28 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

> 1.   The house is heavily altered from when Poe lived there (top two floors
>  of facade intact (lower two floors pushed out with 1920's storefront).
>  2.  Poe did not build or materially alter the house.
>  3.  His occupancy was extremely brief.

Perhaps there is no other site identified in NYC that is a more closely
associated with Poe. Did Poe write something memorable here? Did it represent
an memorable period of his career -- positive or negative? Was this where Poe
crawled in to lick wounds and recover from a scathing review of his poems?

Local designation does not have to reach the level of significance required
by the NR. It only has to be important to the understanding of local history.
And if a site has been recognized as significant -- the very fact that it has
long been celebrated as "Poe's house" for instance -- demonstrates that it
means something to the people of NYC. It may not be the absolute cream of
landmarks. But it may be the best that NYC has. And it wants to keep it.

NYU has lots of money -- they can build elsewhere, right? And didn't they
just take down another landmark hotel (theatre?) for a dorm downtown? Not a
great record to build on.

Julep