The 23rd Spring House Tour Benefit is Around the Corner
Springtime in New York City! What could be more inviting? Tulips, daffodils, and flowering trees and bushes fill our parks, people pour into the streets to enjoy the sunshine, and, of course, Village Preservation’s much beloved and time-honored tradition, the Spring House Tour Benefit, is right around the corner. This year marks our 23rd tour, and we are as excited as ever to share some amazing homes with our tour-goers. The Spring House Tour Benefit allows participants to view six spectacular Village homes, all while raising funds in support of Village Preservation’s crucial work to educate about and advocate for the distinctive character and irreplaceable architecture of our neighborhoods.
Our Annual House Tour Benefit takes place on Sunday, May 5th from 1:00 until 5:30 PM, followed by a reception from 6:00 until 8:00 PM. Tickets are still available, so be sure to purchase yours soon!
The Spring House Tour is a rare opportunity to go behind the gorgeous façades of historic townhouses and buildings, to explore the spaces and enjoy both the new and old details that so few get to see up close – details that tell fascinating stories about the neighborhood. The 2023 tour, for example, featured the amazing home pictured below, owned and designed by architect Steven Gambrel. Originally one of five in an idyllic Anglo-Italianate row of houses, Steven and his partner James Anderson’s five-story, single-family brownstone on West 9th Street boasts the classical architectural stylings of the period alongside contemporary ornamentation that carries with it the trademark aesthetics of many S.R. Gambrel Inc. projects.
Though we might pass houses like this every day without a second thought, the Spring House Tour offers the opportunity to tour the interiors of these magnificent buildings and learn about their histories and their current owners’ imaginative and thoughtful designs for living. Another magnificent Italianate home on Morton Street will be a highlight of the tour this year!
The 2024 tour includes six homes, each one incredibly unique in terms of their built histories as well as their owners’ personal touches to the interiors. Tour-goers can walk through the homes with an eye out for mid-19th century pocket doors, solid marble bathtubs, replicas and recreations of original plasterwork and millwork, astounding art collections, lush rear gardens, stunning light fixtures, and so much more.
While visiting these extraordinary homes throughout the Village — some nearly 200 years old, and all connected to the rich cultural history of the neighborhood of the last two centuries — the importance of Village Preservation’s work becomes clear. All six locations on this year’s tour fall within the Greenwich Village Historic District, designated on April 29, 1969 and successfully extended by Village Preservation in May 2006 and again in June 2010. All of this ensures that the rich architectural and cultural environment of this area is protected. Contributions to our Annual Spring House Tour Benefit help us to continue our work to maintain the sense of place and human scale that define Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo.
This year is extra special! We are pleased to announce that Village Preservation will have its very first “Pop-Up” in the very heart of Greenwich Village at a most iconic spot…
Like many of you, we were shocked to hear about the closure of the longtime iconic neighborhood business Village Cigars, which has been located at 110 Seventh Avenue South (at Christopher Street) for nearly a hundred years. The Sheridan Square mainstay is connected to the history of the development of Greenwich Village streets, as well as linked to the beloved Hess Triangle located in front of the store.
The owner of the property has generously offered us the spot for the day of the House Tour! Pop in and visit our Pop-Up!
We invite you to be a part of the the 23rd Annual Spring House Tour Benefit! Purchase your tickets today! Tickets may also be purchased on the day of the House Tour and will be priced at a higher rate than advance tickets. This year’s ticket pick-up location is the New York Studio School, which is located at 8 West 8th Street, but for the tour, enter through 19 MacDougal Alley in the rear. You will be greeted by a special installment on the rails to the entrance of the Alley. Remember this exhibit from our 2022 VILLAGE VOICES?