GVSHP | Preservation | East Village

PRESERVATION UPDATE
from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
March 19, 2008
www.gvshp.org

WEBSTER HALL LANDMARKED!

Dear friend,

I wanted to let you know that yesterday the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) designated Webster Hall at 119 East 11th Street a New York City landmark. This is a designation GVSHP had strongly advocated for, and a building we had done a considerable amount of research on, which was shared with the LPC in order to help make that case. The LPC also designated three other sites in the East Village yesterday -- the former Children's Aid Society Home for Girls at 307 East 12th Street, a former synagogue at 242 East 7th Street, and a former public bath house at 538 East 11th Street -- all of which GVSHP also supported being landmarked.

This designation is so important because in addition to its architectural interest, Webster Hall embodies much about the social, political, and cultural history of downtown and the East Village. Originally a "hall for hire," from the late 19th century through World War II Webster Hall was the scene of labor rallies, drag balls, costume bacchanals, and political protests. After World War II, it became an important performance venue for emerging Latin artists and folk musicians, and then a recording studio used by Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and Julie Andrews, and for the recording of soundtracks for Hello Dolly and Fiddler on the Roof. Additionally, the zoning for the site would easily allow Webster Hall to be replaced by a 20+ story dorm or hotel, a fate which has befallen too many of its neighbors; landmark preservation should ensure this never happens here.

Read coverage of Webster Hall's landmark designation in the Daily News, the NY Post, Metro NY, NY Sun, and United Press International.

Andrew Berman, Executive Director
Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
212/475-9585 x38
232 East 11th Street
New York, NY 10003

To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, go to www.gvshp.org/membership.htm

PRESERVATION UPDATE
from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
October 25, 2007
www.gvshp.org

Next Tuesday, October 30th, the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission will consider a proposal to designate Webster Hall at 119-125 East 11th Street an individual New York City landmark (see www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--websterhall-landm1022oct22,0,7817328.story). This summer, GVSHP supplied the Commission with the extensive research we compiled on the history of Webster Hall, and urged the Commission to landmark the site; shortly thereafter the Commission voted to consider the building for landmark designation (see www.gvshp.org/documents/WebsterHallLPCSubmission.pdf).

In addition to its architectural interest, Webster Hall embodies much about the social, political, and cultural history of downtown and the East Village. Originally a "hall for hire," from the late 19th century through World War II Webster Hall was the scene of labor rallies, drag balls, costume bacchanals, and political protests. After World War II, it became an important performance venue for emerging Latin artists and folk musicians, and then a recording studio used by Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and Julie Andrews, and for the recording of soundtracks for Hello Dolly and Fiddler on the Roof.

Beyond preserving its notable history, landmarking of Webster Hall is made all the more necessary because the zoning for the area (which GVSHP is fighting to change -- see www.gvshp.org/EVcorridor.htm) allows the construction of huge dorms and hotels, such as NYU's 26-story mega-dorm, located on the same block (see www.gvshp.org/NYUDorm.htm#7Aug2006).

HOW TO HELP:

WRITE TO THE LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMISSION SUPPORTING LANDMARKING WEBSTER HALL AND FIVE OTHER SITES IN THE EAST VILLAGE, AND URGING THE COMMISSION TO CONSIDER FURTHER LANDMARK PROTECTIONS FOR THE EAST VILLAGE -- go to www.gvshp.org/WH128Letter.htm for a sample letter you can use.

To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, CLICK HERE.

END-of-SUMMER PROGRESS REPORT ON:
WEBSTER HALL LANDMARKING
(Above: Images of Webster Hall from GVSHP's nomination to the Landmarks Preservation Commission)

Earlier this summer, GVSHP sent documentation to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) regarding the incredible history of Webster Hall at 119 East 11th Street, and urged the Commission to consider the site for landmark designation. The Commission subsequently voted to calendar the building, or formally consider it for landmark status, and we expect a public hearing to be scheduled soon. Webster Hall is an incredibly important site not only for its architecture, but for its significance in the history of popular music, the labor movement, radical politics, and the lesbian and gay community.