What if Grand Central Terminal, the Empire State Building and the theater at Radio City Music Hall were not New York City landmarks?

Civic groups and preservationists are now fighting a proposed City Council bill that they argue will weaken the city’s historic Landmarks Law — a bill that, had it been in effect in the past, would have jeopardized some of the city’s most beloved buildings.

The bill’s sponsors, as well as local business and real estate leaders, argue that it simply brings much-needed responsibility and transparency to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, the agency that oversees all landmarks. A public hearing on the bill is scheduled for Sept. 9.

Currently, the commission can place any building on its calendar, which indicates that it is considering the building for designation as a landmark or as part of a historic district. But there is no limit to how long a building remains on the calendar. In some cases, it can be for years or even decades.