Astor’s Preservation Legacy

To the Editor:

The Observer’s review of the new biography of Brooke Astor [“Beloved Brooke: Third Mrs. Astor, First Lady of New York”, May 21] mentioned Astor Place but overlooked Astor Row, a landmark block in Harlem that Ms. Astor helped to restore.

In addition to being a “living monument” (as the review put it), she was also a “living landmark,” because she helped to preserve New York. We are honored to salute her as such.

Peg Breen
President, The New York Landmarks Conservancy
Manhattan