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Dorothy Miner

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Sometimes listed as Dorothy Marie Miner or Dorothy Marie O'Driscoll Miner.

Biography

Dorothy Marie Miner was born in Manhattan, New York on August 14, 1936. She was the daughter of Dwight C. Miner, a history professor at Columbia University. Ms. Miner received a bachelor's degree from Smith College in 1958, a law degree from Columbia University in 1961, and a master's degree in urban planning from Columbia University in 19721. In 1970, Ms. Miner married James Edward O'Driscoll, a professor at Columbia University2.

In the early 1970s, Dorothy Miner worked for the Environmental Defense Fund while volunteering at the Landmarks Preservation Commission; at a time when the the seminal Grand Central Terminal case was being tested in city courts3. She was officially named counsel to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1975. She served as counsel until 1994, when she was asked to resign by then chairwoman, Jennifer Raab4.

After stepping down as counsel to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, she worked as an attorney and a historic preservation consultant.

Ms. Miner also served on the board of numerous preservation, urban planning and architecture organizations including the Fine Arts Federation, National Center for Preservation Law Commission, the James Marston Fitch Charitable Foundation, the New York Preservation Archive Project, and the Municipal Art Society5. At MAS, she served on all of its committees: Preservation, Planning, and Law6. In addition to these contributions, she was a member of the New York City Bar Association's "Redevelopment of Lower Manhattan Task Force7."

From 1995 to 2008, she was an adjunct professor at Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, where she taught preservation law and a historic preservation studio. She was also an adjunct professor of historic preservation law at Pace University School of Law and at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's School of Architecture.

In 1995, she was awarded the New York Chapter of American Institute of Architecture's Honorary Member Award8.

Dorothy Miner passed away on October 21, 2008. She was 72 years old.

Key Events Places and Dates

Penn Central vs. the City of New York 1978

Oral History

"Making the Best Better: 35th Anniversary Celebration of the 1973 Amendments to NYC's Landmarks Law Panel Discussion." June 10, 2008. New York Preservation Archive Project174 East 80th StreetNew York, NY 10075Phone: (212) 988-8379Fax: (212) 537-5571

Dorothy Miner's involvement in the preservation movement in New York City was instrumental in upholding the constitutionality of the New York City Landmarks Law. As counsel to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, she "helped establish the legal right to designate landmarks9."

Grand Central Terminal- Ms. Miner played a crucial role in the Penn Central vs. the City of New York Supreme Court Case.- When Penn Central commissioned Marcel Breuer to construct a 55-story addition on top of Grand Central Terminal, preservationists launched an advocacy campaign against these plans. The case was eventually brought before the United States Supreme Court. - Ms. Miner's legal guidance as counsel to the New York City Landmarks Commission was integral to the success in upholding the New York City Landmarks Law10. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the city of New York. - This victory established the constitutionality of landmarking historic buildings. - The effects of this case reverberated nationwide, serving as a model for landmark designation in other major cities.

17th Century Street Plan Lower Manhattan- Ms. Miner was also responsible for drafting the legal documents for the designation of the 17th Century Street Plan of Lower Manhattan in 198311. The designation halted development which had eradicated the neighborhood's "irregular blocks12."

Mount Neboh Synagogue- Mount Neboh Synagogue, located on 130 West 79th Street, was designed by architect Walter S. Schneider. The synagogue was designated as a landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 198213.- Alexander Edelman, owner of the synagogue, filed for financial hardship in 1984, and Mount Neboh was subsequently demolished14.- Dorothy Miner stated that despite its demolition, Mount Neboh would not be "stripped of its landmark status15."

Saint Bartholomew's- In the mid-1980s, Saint Bartholomew Church had plans to tear down its landmarked community house on 50th Street in order to build a 47-story office tower in its place16. The church argued that the Landmarks Preservation Commission violated their "rights of religious exercise and use of its property17."- Dorothy Miner defended the designation of Saint Bartholomew's church community house despite the Church's challenges to the New York Landmarks Law18. - Thanks to Ms. Miner's legal guidance, the city won in the federal Court of Appeals in 1990.

- In 1994, Ms. Miner was asked to step down as counsel to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission by its then-chairwoman, Jennifer J. Raab. Raab stated that the Commission was in need of a "fresh eye19." According to Professor Robinson, who taught with Ms. Miner at Pace Academy of Law, Mayor Giuliani had called for her resignation in order to "accede to the real estate industry20."

Despite being asked to resign as counsel, Dorothy continued to devote herself to numerous non-profit organizations, offering her legal guidance and expertise.

- She served as a board member on numerous preservation related organizations such as the Preservation League of New York State, the Municipal Art Society, the James Marston Fitch Charitable Foundation, and the New York Preservation Archive Project. The Municipal Art Society had characterized her as "one of the sharpest minds, iron wills and gracious hearts," and "with her fierce intellect she was able to dissect complex issues and sum up the problems in a few perfectly crafted and often funny sentenceshttp://mas.org/remembering-dorothy-miner/. October 25, 2008." href="#footnote21_xh7w2h7">21."

- During the latter portion of her life, she spent her time teaching historic preservation law at Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Pace University School of Law, and the School of Architecture, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

  • 1. Dunlap, David W. "Dorothy Miner, 72, Legal Innovator Dies" The New York Times October 23, 2008.
  • 2. Staff, "Dorothy Miner, J.E. O'Driscoll Are Wed Here" The New York Times July 26, 1970.
  • 3. Introduction. Anthony C. Wood and Dorothy Miner interview with Robert Low, New York Preservation Archive Project. July 16, 2002.
  • 4. Dunlap, David W. "Dorothy Miner, 72, Legal Innovator Dies" The New York Times October 23, 2008.
  • 5. http://www.arch.columbia.edu/start.php?pageData=8882/23/4/1720/
  • 6. http://www.arch.columbia.edu/start.php?pageData=8882/23/4/1720/
  • 7. http://www.arch.columbia.edu/start.php?pageData=8882/23/4/1720/
  • 8. Ibid.
  • 9. Staff. "POSTINGS: A 'Fresh Eye' Wanted; Counsel leaving Landmarks Panel." The New York Times October 16, 1994.
  • 10. Dunlap, David W. "Dorothy Miner, 72, Legal Innovator Dies" The New York Times October 23, 2008.
  • 11. Ibid.
  • 12. Ibid.
  • 13. Fein, Esther B. "MT. Neboh Owner Faces Foreclosure Threat." The New York Times July 13, 1984.
  • 14. Ibid.
  • 15. Dunlap, David W. "Dorothy Miner, 72, Legal Innovator Dies" The New York Times October 23, 2008.
  • 16. Dunlap, David W. "Change on the Horizon for Landmarks" The New York Times April 29, 1990.
  • 17. Ibid.
  • 18. Dunlap, David W. "Dorothy Miner, 72, Legal Innovator Dies" The New York Times October 23, 2008.
  • 19. Staff. "POSTINGS: A 'Fresh Eye' Wanted; Counsel leaving Landmarks Panel." The New York Times October 16, 1994.
  • 20. Ibid.
  • 21. MAS. "Remembering Dorothy Miner" http://mas.org/remembering-dorothy-miner/. October 25, 2008.