Before the IRT Powerhouse’s last remaining original smokestack is possibly lost, civic and preservation groups such as the Municipal Art Society are seeking landmark status for this magnificent 1904 building on New York City’s West Side. Its station once powered the city’s first subway lines. But according to Mindfulwalker.com, Con Ed (the current owner) has objected to such an effort in the past.

Susan DeMark’s new New York-based blog explores architecture, preservation, history, and nature. Recently, DeMark has focused on AIG’s possible sale of its Art Deco headquarters building, the Irish Hunger Memorial in Lower Manhattan, and the current skirmishes over the best plan to rejuvenate Coney Island.

The site offers readers an opportunity to explore such topics primarily through a walking, up-close, firsthand experience. Also, a portion of the site called Mindful Activist promotes action and awareness about current issues in preservation and history. DeMark’s primary areas of focus are New York City and the Hudson Valley.