Cathedral of St. John the Divine’s NYC landmark status will be voted on

Rejoice, rejoice: the Landmarks Preservation Commission will officially decide whether or not to add the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine to the city’s list of protected buildings. The LPC announced that the cathedral’s fate will be voted on at its regular meeting tomorrow afternoon, along with that of the Morningside Heights Historic District.

The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine is an odd case, as far as historic New York City buildings go. Though it’s always had the makings of a landmark—it’s more than a century old; it’s dripping in gorgeous architectural details, including Guastavino tile; it’s recognized as the largest cathedral in the world; etc. etc.—attempts to preserve it officially have failed for various and sundry reasons. (That it’s still unfinished after more than 120 years hasn’t helped its case.)

That could change tomorrow, though—the LPC will vote on the seven buildings that make up the St. John the Divine campus, including the imposing cathedral itself. The vote, however, comes after private development has already encroached on the site: The Enclave at the Cathedral, a pricey rental complex made up of two buildings that sit on either side of the main building, opened last year.

It’ll be a big day for Upper Manhattan: The LPC will also determine whether or not to create the Morningside Heights Historic District, which has been in the works for two decades and received overwhelming public support at a hearing in December.

• Cathedral of St. John the Divine Could Finally Become a NYC Landmark [Curbed]
• Morningside Heights historic district gets a boost with overwhelming public support [Curbed]
• Why NYC's Most Magnificent Cathedral Is Not Landmarked [Curbed]