NYG&B To Sell Its Building

The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B) plans to sell the society's headquarters building in Manhattan. The Society management and the Board of Directors have approved the sale, and the action now goes to the membership for an approval vote, to be held October 12. The Society has been in the building at 122 East 58th Street since 1929.

The Hampton Synagogue has offered $24 million for the building. If the sale is approved, the building will be converted into a Jewish synagogue. However, NYG&B will be allowed to occupy the building for another two years while looking for a new home, probably in Manhattan.

In a letter to members, NYG&B board chairman Henry C. B. Lindh noted the lack of funds for urgently needed upgrades to the building's systems and said that the sale will allow the organization to devote available resources "to the research and education that are the core of [its] mission."

The NYG&B was founded in 1869. Other organizations that rent space in its building are the Holland Society of America, the Huguenot Society of America, and the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of New York.

Comments

[Dee Snook]

I will be sending a letter to all the trustees regarding this sale. There are no provisions for what they're going to do once the sale goes through. Are they going to rent a building? Purchase another building? How much is it going to cost to renovate another building to get it to their needs? How long will we be out of a library? I think all they've seen is dollar signs. If we don't have the money to renovate this building, where are we going to get it to purchase another building in NYC? No, they've put the cart before the horse!

[Mac Young]

Wishing to gently disagree with my friend, Dee Snook, this decision by NYGBS is exactly the kind of forward looking one that needs to be made by other mature, traditional genealogical societies housed in museum-like facilities on valuable urban land. They have most of their capital assets tied up in non-income producing real estate -- unavailable for providing genealogical services to the majority of their remote members, who seldom if ever visit their downtown facility. The same member services can be provided from any suburban office park facility, where operating cost are lower, employee housing costs are lower, commutes are shorter, and parking is free. Are you listening, NEHGS?

[Donald Hoff]

Bravo for the suggestion that we build outside the urban area...
the smart thing is to opt for the space that is sufficiently large enough
for all the material and activities which an organization need to engage in.
The error would be clear in the buying and building on land where parking is scarce, property values are high, traffic is heavy, safety is a greater concern, and creature comforts are lacking.

I was born and raised in Brooklyn, but now live 240 miles to the west of NYC. I would visit more often and would find it easier to share the resources if I could drive and take my time, and return for a few days stay. I suspect that there are others who would prefer a place outside the Apple.

I would add that it for the sake of long term viability, it would be wise to engage in a partnership where a space would be available for another organization.It might also be done with a eye on the propects of engaging and encouraging young persons (such as students on a day trip from schools)
to become aquanited with the value of Family History. We need to ward off the tendency of Family History being a privleged class hobby.

[Tracy Hurley]

I disagree with the comments which suggest building in the suburbs. Public transportation to those areas is often non-existent. In particular, the NEHGS is in a great location. The Boston Public Library, which owns many resources that complement those held by the NEHGS, is very close by. The society is near a number of bus routes and a subway line. There are a number of hotels in the area and things to do after a day of researching. If parking is an issue, park at one of the suburban lots and take the T in. Finally, I think the society does a great job at helping remote customers while providing a great resource and atmosphere for those of us who like to visit the facility. Contrast this to NARA, which is much closer to where I live but is also some place I can not get to without a hefty cab fare.

[Joy Rich]

Will NYGBS bring its library with it when it moves to __________?

[Joy Rich]

Mac Young wrote, "They have most of their capital assets tied up in non-income producing real estate." But Dick Eastman wrote "Other organizations that rent space in its building are the Holland Society of America, the Huguenot Society of America, and the Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of New York."

[Dee Snook]

To respond to Donald's note. I came back east this spring to research. I was able to research at the NYG&B library, the NY Historical Society, NY Public Library, the Holland Society, NYC Archives, the Old Archives and NARA - all short subway rides from where I stayed. The longest trip was to Jamaica, in Queens to the Queensboro library which meant a long subway ride and then a long walk to the library. Where else can you research at so many venues so close?

[Richard Hillenbrand]

It does not sound like the full story is being told at this time, however it seems highly likely that many of the fears expressed by the concerned posters above have most likely been considered by the board and officers.

It has always been a great comfort for me to visit the old time surroundings of the G&B amidst the portraits and wonderful old volumes, but if it would be better to move the valuable collection to an environment in more modern digs, then it is fine with me.

My membership will support the decision of those with much more knowledge of the situation than myself.

Dick Hillenbrand
Upstate New York Genealogy
www.ny-genes.com
http://ny-genes.blogspot.com/

[Gail R. Gordon]

If anyone who has expressed their concerns directly to the society has gotten a response, I wish they would post it.

I share the concerns of Dee Snook. The notice sent to members by NYGBS specifically states they will be looking for another location in Manhattan. I don't know where they are going to find such a location (even in a suburban office park) where the landlord doesn't expect them to not only cover the landlord's costs to maintain the building, but also a nice profit for the landlord as well, so the end result to be expected from the sale would be that the society's funds would simply continue to be depleted.

So much else has been left unsaid (such as what steps were taken to insure that this is the best possible price to be gotten for the building, and that other options such as sale of development or air rights could not solve the problem) that I can't help feeling there is more to this proposal than meets the eye.

How bad is the society's financial situation? Is this a last ditch effort to keep from going out of business altogether within the next two years?

One would certainly hope that all avenues have been pursued and all options thoroughly investigated, but after a series of disappointments with so many things that have happened in our school districts, fire districts, local governments, and even our churches, in recent years, I am no longer willing to just take it on faith that the people we trust are doing everything they can or should be doing to look out for the long-term best interests of our important institutions. Even if they're doing the best they know how, should they seek specialized outside advice? Perhaps they did in this case, but from the notice they sent the members, it is impossible to tell.

[Joy Rich]

Financial information about non-profit organizations is posted at www.guidestar.org. There's no fee charged to register and be able to look at an organization's IRS Form 990 for 2005 and previous years. Form 990 is a return for tax-exempt organizations. It includes statements of assets, depreciation, expenses, income, some salaries, etc.

[Joy Rich]

As Dick Eastman reported at http://blog.eogn.com/eastmans_online_genealogy/2006/06/proquest_termin.html on June 6, 2006, members of genealogical and historical societies won't have home access to the online databases of ProQuest (Historical Newspapers) and Heritage Quest (federal censuses) after the societies' current subscriptions expire (the NYGBS website says "THE NEW YORK TIMES AND HERITAGE QUEST ONLINE: In-Home Access Available for NYG&B Members through April 2007").

Because a huge number of genealogists joined these societies specifically for that home access, several of those societies are very concerned about the potential loss of those members.