New Info Uncovered By Village Preservation,
With Recent Demolitions and
Out-of-Scale Construction,
Highlight Urgent Need to
Landmark Unprotected Area
South of Union Square

Village Preservation research has uncovered exciting and illuminating information about the significance of the area of Greenwich Village and the East Village south of Union Square, and submitted a 25-page letter to the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission with the materials, calling for the agency to finally act to extend landmark protections to the area – read it here. With the increased pressure on the area from the beginning of construction on the 14th Street Tech Hub, the recent demolition of the St. Denis Hotel (80 E. 10th Street; 1855 – to be replaced by this) and the completion of the woefully out-of-scale tech office tower at 808 Broadway, the time is now for the city to act to protect this incredibly historically rich but endangered area.

Urge the City to Protect This Vital History and Neighborhood NOW – click here

Our research has revealed that surviving buildings in this district were the headquarters of the Women’s Suffrage movement of the late 19th century and the Revolutionary Workers League of the 20th century. That they were the home of both publishing giants and premier piano-makers. That “The Alienist” and “Alice in Wonderland” both owe a debt to them.  That Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Anais Niin advanced their feminist agendas here.  That it produced both “The Fighting Worker” and early French Flats which still stand.  And that it’s where one of the 19th century’s greatest American architects, James Renwick Jr., lived, worked, and died, and designed a broader collection of buildings than anywhere else on Earth.  Read the details here, and see coverage in today’s AMNY.

We know we have climate deniers in Washington.  But the city and our elected officials can no longer deny the historic significance of this area or the fact that this history is being destroyed without the landmark protections this area needs. The Mayor and his Landmarks Preservation Commission need to act. And Councilmember Carlina Rivera needs to follow through on her unkept promise from her 2017 campaign when she said she would never vote for the 14th Street Tech Hub unless comprehensive neighborhood protections were attached.  She voted aye over a year ago; we’re still waiting for those protections.

This recent letter to the LPC with new information about the historic significance of this area comes more than six months after we submitted this report to the Commission by noted architectural historian Tony Robins documenting and arguing for landmark designation for the area. You can find out more about our efforts to protect this area at vparchive.gvshp.org/savemyneighborhood.