Mayor gears up to replace Landmarks chair

Mayor Bill de Blasio is reportedly zeroing in on his pick for the head of the agency charged with protecting New York City’s historic sites.

The decision to switch up the Landmarks Preservation Commission head follows a recent City Council grilling of current chair Robert Tierney. Councilmembers questioned Tierney two weeks ago about whether landmarking efforts are at odds with the mayor’s stated goal to build and preserve 200,000 units of affordable housing.

Possible contenders for the job include Ward Dennis, partner at historic preservation consultant firm Higgins Quasebarth and Kate Daly, the LPC’s current executive director. Other possibilities include Ronda Wist of the Municipal Art Society, Carol Clark of Columbia University with experience at the Department of Housing and Preservation and Chris Collins, the former counsel for the City Council’s Land Use Committee.

De Blasio’s may also have to pick two more commissioners following the appointment of the new chair, as two plan to resign following Tierney’s removal, Crain’s reported. [Crain’s] –– Angela Hunt