East 10th Street’s Landmark-worthy Buildings
We love historic images here at Village Preservation. They help us with our research, like our building-by-building documentation of the East Village, and frankly they’re just fun to look at. This picture of East 10th Street from 1934 is a favorite, with a great row of houses, a streetcar, Tompkins Square Park and the Christadora House in the background.
Many of the images we come across also make us wistful for remarkable buildings and places that are no more.
Fortunately, this block of East 10th Street between Avenues A and B has not changed much since this photo was taken. Because of its architectural integrity and special character it has been proposed as the East 10th Street Historic District and will have a deisgnation hearing at the Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday, January 17th, an opportunity for the public to speak up in favor of preserving the East Village.
Sometimes historic photos help us confirm that a building or buildings has changed very little over time. From the picture taken in 1934 to the recent picture above, the block of East 10th Street between Avenues A and B has changed very little. Cornices, stoops, window hoods and original materials are all very much intact. The block’s remarkable degree of architectural integrity is why it was chosen as one of two proposed historic districts in the East Village by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
The East Village/Lower East Side Historic District and the East 10th Street Historic District were proposed by the LPC last May and supported by Community Board #3 this past summer. While the LPC has sat on scheduling the designation hearings for these districts inappropriate alterations were made and ornament was stripped from buildings.
If you would like to show you support for the designation of the East 10th Street Historic District, please come to the LPC hearing on Tuesday, January 17 at 1:30 p.m. at the Municipal Building, 1 Centre Street, 9th Floor, Public Hearing Room and speak in support. If you are unable to attend please send a letter expressing your support to LPC Chairman Tierney. We have a sample letter with LPC contact information here.