Heartening Numbers

It seems the Landmarks Commission has gotten the message that a lot of people think its been doing a lame job protecting the City's cultural heritage from ravenous overdevelopment.

In addition to landmarking a whopping eight properties across four boroughs at its meeting yesterday (including the Eberhard Faber Pencil Factory, above), as well as showing all signs that it likes the idea of a DUMBO historic district mighty fine, observers marked that the Commission is currently on a record-breaking landmarking spree.

AM New York noted that in fiscal year 2007, the Commission has anointed 1,158 buildings, the highest number since 1990. In 2005, by contrast, it offered protection to only 46. Woo-hoo! Now that's what I call progress.

Now I just have five words for the landmark-happy Commission: Expanded Carroll Gardens Historic District.