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June 23, 2015
Stonewall Landmarked! Continue the Fight for LGBT
History
History
was made and preserved today, as the Landmarks Preservation Commission
voted unanimously to approve landmark designation of the Stonewall
Inn at 51-53 Christopher Street, the first such site the Commission
has landmarked based solely upon LGBT
history. GVSHP first proposed
the Stonewall for landmark designation in early 2014, and
spearheaded the campaign to get the City to take this action.
This is an important step forward in not only recognizing the critical
role this site has played in civil rights history, but in ensuring that
it will be preserved for generations to come.
 GVSHP is continuing the
fight to get
the Commission to consider three other sites of importance to LGBT
civil rights history for landmark designation:
- Julius’
Bar at 159 West 10th Street, the oldest gay
bar in New York City and the site of the first civil disobedience
for LGBT rights in 1966, a protest against NY State’s de
facto prohibition on gay bars. Built in 1826, Julius’
has been located here since 1864.
- The Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center at 208 West 13th Street,
one of the oldest such community centers in the world, and the
birthplace of ACT-UP and many other highly influential activist
and service organizations. Built in 1869, expanded in 1899,
it is the former home of P.S. 16 and the Food & Maritime
Trades Vocational High School.
- The (former) Gay
Activists Alliance Firehouse, 99 Wooster Street, home of one of
the most impactful LGBT groups of the post-Stonewall era, whose
“zaps” and face-to-face confrontations influenced
generations of activist and political groups. The GAA was
located in this abandoned city firehouse until a firebombing
forced them out in 1974. Designed in 1881 by acclaimed
architect Napoleon LeBrun.
HOW TO
HELP:
GVSHP
and Casa Vera productions has also created a website dedicated
to the effort to protect these sites of significance to LGBT
history here. Learn
more about the Village’s LGBT history here.
Landmarks Preservation Commission Takes
Better Route on "De-Calendaring"
In an
important victory for preservation efforts, the Landmarks Preservation
Commission has announced
that they will hear and consider for potential landmark designation
approximately 95 sites previously considered for
“de-calendaring,” rather than simply removing them all from
the list of those under consideration for landmark designation as formerly
planned. This includes four buildings in our area of which
GVSHP had advocated
for landmark designation: 801-807
Broadway/67 East 11th Street, 57
Sullivan Street, 138 Second Avenue, and 2 Oliver Street.
Hearings on each of these sites to determine if they will be granted or
denied landmark status, or if they will be removed from the calendar
for consideration “without prejudice,” will take place
beginning in the fall.
We are grateful that the
Commission will be taking a much more transparent approach, allowing
the public the opportunity to comment on each of these sites and for
each to be considered on its merits. When more information is
available about the scheduling of hearings, we will let you know.
Annual Awards and Meeting Recap
We
were honored to be joined by hundreds of members and friends last
Wednesday night for our Annual Meeting and Presentation of the
Village Awards at The New School. 
Thank
you to everyone who attended, our emcee Calvin Trillin, and especially
to our six incredible awardees -- craftswoman Barbara Schaum, Bonnie Slotnick
Cookbooks, activist David Rothenberg, the Renee & Chaim Gross
Foundation, the restoration of 201 East 12th Street, and photographers
James & Karla Murray. The evening included a presentation
of GVSHP’s work and accomplishments over the last year, the
election of new and returning trustees, and the presentation of our
Village Awards.
You
can view a video
of the evening’s event here and photos here.
Find out more about the Village
Awardees and GVSHP’s Annual Meeting here.
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