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In theory, designating something as a landmark should only affect the facade or certain crucial interior features (like the fireplace in a Frank Lloyd Wright house).
In practice, it's a gigantic headache. Chances are, no, the commission won't force you to keep a 1900-style bathroom. But usually you have to write up an extensive proposal and wait for the board to approve it before you can do ANYTHING to the structure of the house. This can mean huge delays when all you want to do is rip out the bathrooms. It also means that anything which disturbs the historic look of the house WON'T be approved. For example, a central air conditioning unit which sticks out through the roof; an addition which doesn't change the existing house but which is visible from the street; etc. etc.
My law school is totally crippled by this. A huge part of the property it owns is occupied by an enormous housing complex that is hideous, unlivable, convinces a lot of fantastic applicants to go elsewhere -- and is the largest surviving work of an "important" 20th-century architect. The alumni are there with donations to build new and better dorms -- the school would be thrilled to tear it down -- and it looks like we will be stuck with this monstrosity FOREVER because some architecture historians who don't have to live there want to come by once a year and admire the low ceilings, rat-cage rooms, and cement walls.
I have the greatest sympathy for the affected organizations. At least their houses are apparently habitable now; ours never were.
Ivy
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