East Village Historic Districts Calendared
Yesterday the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) voted to calendar the two proposed historic districts in the East Village: the 300-building East Village/Lower East Side Historic District, centered around Lower Second Avenue south of St. Mark's Place, and the 26-building East 10th Street Historic District, which encompasses all buildings on the north side of Tompkins Square Park between Avenues A and B. The LPC first proposed these two districts in April of this year, and though their originally-proposed boundaries contained a number of significant buildings with important ties to the history of the East Village, GVSHP and other neighborhood groups successfully fought to expand the proposed boundaries to include even more noteworthy buildings on East 2nd Street and along Avenue A.
Calendaring is the first of three formal steps in the designation process, and puts in place preliminary protections to help prevent insensitive alterations to the myriad of important historic buildings included within the proposed districts. The calendaring will be followed -- at a yet undetermined date -- by a public hearing at the LPC and a final vote to officially approve or deny designation.
The Landmarks Subcommittee of Community Board 3 will be holding a public hearing on the designation of the two proposed historic districts next Thursday, July 7th. While the Community Board's resolution is not binding, it should weigh heavily on the LPC's final decision. We encourage you to attend this hearing to voice your support for designation and to let the Community Board know that the neighborhood wants landmarking!
The East Village is near and dear to GVSHP, as we have spent the last several years researching the history of every single building in the entire neighborhood in order to start a conversation about landmarking and preservation. The LPC has promised that their current proposal is only a first step in the process, and that they intend to survey the remainder of the East Village for future landmark designations.
HOW TO HELP:
Come to the Community Board #3 Landmarks Subcommittee public hearing on the proposed historic districts next Thursday, July 7th at 6:30 pm in the Cooper Union Rose Auditorium at 41 Cooper Square (if you plan to attend, please contact us). As these details are subject to change, please visit the Community Board #3 calendar for the most up-to-date information.
Next: 07/13/11
Previous: 05/31/11 |
