Fieldston, an enclave in the Bronx bounded roughly by the Henry Hudson Parkway on the west and Tibet and Waldo Avenues on the east between Manhattan College Parkway/244th Street on the south and 250th Street on the north was designated a historic district in 2006. The historic area includes 257 buildings. The enclave was once a privately owned estate that developed into a planned suburban community. With a historic designation approval, property owners are required to seek approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) for any cosmetic change to their structures.
Critics of the designation contended that the need to seek approval would in turn reduce property values. They formed a group called the Fieldston Homeowners Association to advocate and lobby elected officials in the community’s opposition to the designation.
Advocates, however, of the designation argued that without the designation there is nothing to provide sufficient protection to preserve the character of the historic community. The area is unique for New York City in that represents a planned suburban area mixed in between wooded areas.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) supported the designation, which was later approved by the City Council on April 26, 2006.