The ordinances were adopted starting in the 1960s, often after an important building was lost. A few municipalities designate landmarks over the objections of property owners, but most Island towns and villages won't. Certified communities are eligible for federal funding for preservation projects, and some property owners are eligible for special tax breaks. The certified local governments on Long Island are the Town of North Hempstead, City of Glen Cove and Villages of Sands Point, Roslyn, Sag Harbor, Southampton and East Hampton. A few local municipalities, such as the Town of Shelter Island and the Villages of Lloyd Harbor and Northport, have chosen to do without landmark ordinances entirely.
Officials there contend landmark ordinances unfairly restrict property owners' rights.
Lloyd Harbor Mayor Richardson Pratt Jr. Even without an ordinance, only one significant historic structure in his village has been demolished, Pratt said. The Burrwood mansion was torn down because no one wanted to spend the money to restore the huge building as a single-family residence. Whether or not a building has local landmark protection, it could receive state and federal designations if it is connected to an important historical event or person, or is architecturally significant or an archaeological site. Usually the structure must be at least 50 years old to be successfully nominated by a local government, non-profit group or individual. Usually when there are a lot of designated landmarks in a community it reflects not only the abundance of historic structures but the presence of a dedicated local preservationist, such as Barbara Van Liew in Head of the Harbor or the late Roger Gerry in Roslyn or Rufus Langhans in Huntington.