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Author: David Herman

The Fight to Protect LGBTQ+ History South of Union Square

Pride Month is an important time to honor the struggles and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community in New York City and beyond. While some key sites across the city have been landmarked to recognize that history — including those we’ve campaigned for in our neighborhoods —  numerous sites essential to the progress made remain unprotected […]

Some Housing? No Housing? The Impact of SoHo/NoHo Rezoning More than Three Years In

In December 2021, the City Council passed the de Blasio administration’s contentious proposal to rezone SoHo, NoHo, and Chinatown. The goal of the plan was to address the lack of new affordable housing in these communities by allowing for larger developments and more “as-of-right” developments that would include new residential components. The City’s 10-year study […]

Ferriss, Hood, and a Century of Art Deco

Village Preservation’s recently released A Century of Art Deco Storymap features some 40 outstanding examples of the beloved design style. Among those historic structures — most of which still stand in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo — are two structures that are decidedly not Art Deco. Rather, we honor two of their past […]

Beyond the Village and Back: Green-Wood Cemetery

In our series Beyond the Village and Back, we take a look at some great landmarks throughout New York City outside of Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo, celebrate their special histories, and reveal their (sometimes hidden) connections to the Village. You can also explore via our Beyond the Village and Back: Manhattan South […]

    Library Week, the Landmarks Law, and Our Local Branches

    “The only thing that you absolutely have to know,” Albert Einstein once said, “is the location of the library.” So it’s a good thing that four outstanding, historic branches are located in our neighborhoods. This month, we have even more reason to celebrate these institutions during National Library Week, which highlights the ever-growing importance libraries […]

      Essential Local Oral Histories for Women’s History Month

      Women have been constant change makers throughout history and around the world, and that of course includes right here in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo. Village Preservation has sought to capture their legacies and tell their stories through our long-standing series of oral histories. In honor of Women’s History Month, we take a […]

        Inspire Your Heart with Public Art Throughout Our Neighborhoods

        Our neighborhoods are world-renowned for serving as home to countless transformative artists and artistic movements over the years. But you don’t have to be invited to an artist’s loft to experience the beauty and inspiration of their work. The public art that abounds in Greenwich Village and the East Village lets us take that imaginative […]

          A Map to Maggie’s Farm and More

          The release of the biopic A Complete Unknown a few weeks ago has sparked renewed interest in the life, local history, and work of music icon Bob Dylan. And while filmmakers substituted the currently more sedate streets of Jersey City and Hoboken for Dylan’s actual neighborhood in the 1960s, you can instead walk the actual […]

          A New Newsletter for a New Year

          The new year brings with it plenty of fresh opportunities to explore and enjoy. For Village Preservation, that includes the latest issue of our semi-annual newsletter, jam-packed with new content, and a brand new design for our longstanding publication. Within the space of 20 pages, the Winter 2025 newsletter gives readers the chance to explore […]

          Jimmy Carter, Habitat for Humanity, and the East Village 

          With the passing of former President Jimmy Carter on December 29, 2024, we look back on the important role he played for more affordable housing in the 1980s East Village with his first major project for Habitat for Humanity, in this post first published in December 2023. Former president Jimmy Carter and his late wife […]

          Co-Named Streets Commemorate Local Heroes Part II

          We’ve all seen them: signs tucked under the official names of local streets, honoring a neighborhood notable with a “Way,” “Place,” or “Corner.” Unfortunately, more often than not the people on these “co-named” street signs are unknown to most passers-by. A New York City agency recently released a way for those who are interested to […]

          Co-Named Streets Commemorate Local Heroes

          We’ve all seen them: signs installed under the actual names of local streets, recognizing a neighborhood notable with a “way,” “place,” or “corner.” While we sometimes know the honorees, more often than not the people on these “co-named” street signs are unknown to most passers-by. A New York City agency recently released the means for […]

          The Oval Office through the Village

          On this day after Election Day, presidential history marches on. And that history has often marched through Greenwich Village and the East Village, as denizens of both the White House and 1 Observatory Circle (the vice president’s residence) have made their marks in our communities. Aaron Burr at Richmond Hill The Charlton-King-VanDam Historic District was […]

            Archtober Stretches Beyond the Village and Back

            October is known for the autumnal changing of the leaves, Halloween, and of course Archtober, the month-long celebration of all things architecture across the five boroughs. Village Preservation, an event sponsor, highlights noteworthy historic buildings in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo, as well as some of our city’s great landmarks that have some […]

              Little Histories Add to Big Picture South of Union Square

              In 2018, Village Preservation launched its campaign to designate South of Union Square a historic district, and protect an architecturally rich neighborhood alive with New York and national history that was (and remains) endangered by ongoing development plans. The area roughly between Third and Fifth Avenues from 9th to 14th Streets played a key role […]

              Annual Report Details Village Preservation’s Growth, Challenges, and Progress

              Village Preservation has released its 2023–24 annual report, a colorful and comprehensive 24-page document that shows how the past year has been one of immense growth, chal­lenges, and progress for our organization. “While we face multiplying challenges to our preservation efforts on a growing number of fronts,” wrote Trevor Stewart, president of Village Preservation, “we […]

                Hettie Jones (1934-2024): A Creative Force in Cooper Square

                East Village resident Hettie Jones — beloved writer and poet, committed activist for social justice and preservation, and recipient of Village Preservation’s Village Award in 2019 — passed away on August 13, 2024, at the age of 90. Born in Brooklyn on June 15, 1934, Jones wrote more than 20 books over her long career, […]

                Harlem’s Great Churches and the Struggle for Abolition, Beyond the Village and Back

                The churches of Harlem have long served as essential institutions in the neighborhood, shaping not only the spiritual lives of residents, but also the bonds that strengthen community. Many great churches, including Mother A.M.E. Zion Church, the Abyssinian Baptist Church, and St. James Presbyterian Church established their present-day homes in Upper Manhattan in the 1920s. […]

                Exploring Jewish Heritage, Beyond the Village and Back

                Since 2006, May has marked Jewish American Heritage Month, 31 days to explore and celebrate the impact of Jewish values, contributions, and culture on the nation’s history and character. Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo are communities rich with sites that showcase and commemorate 350 years of Jewish history in our city. That hyperlocal […]

                  History Remembered with Preservation and Plaques

                  May is coming just around the proverbial corner on our calendars. Those 31 days bring us Preservation Month, when we celebrate historic sites across the country as well as highlight the social, cultural, and economic benefits of their preservation. It’s also a good time to reflect on the noteworthy places and histories that organizations like […]

                  The Trio of Landmarks on Dominick Street

                  On March 27, 2012, the Landmarks Preservation Commission designated as landmarks three of Manhattan’s oldest homes, all of which are gathered in a row on Dominick Street. Nos. 32, 34, and 36 remain among the rare examples of Federal-style homes left in Manhattan, “significant reminders of the beginning of New York City’s evolution into a […]

                  Exploring Virtual Village Voices, Part 6: Larry Kramer, Helen Levitt, and Edna St. Vincent Millay

                  In 2021 and 2022, Village Preservation developed an innovative outdoor public art exhibition that was displayed throughout Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo. VILLAGE VOICES featured photographs, artifacts, and soundscape recordings to celebrate and honor the artistic, social, political, and cultural movements that have grown in our neighborhoods, and the people who gave them […]

                  Exploring Virtual Village Voices, Part 4: Bob Dylan, Martha Graham, and Lorraine Hansberry

                  In 2021 and 2022, Village Preservation developed an innovative outdoor public art exhibition that was displayed throughout Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo. VILLAGE VOICES featured photographs, artifacts, and soundscape recordings to celebrate and honor the artistic, social, political, and cultural movements that have grown in our neighborhoods, and the people who gave them […]

                  Exploring Virtual Village Voices, Part 2: Basquiat, Blackwell, and Brown

                  In 2021 and 2022, Village Preservation developed an innovative outdoor public art exhibition that was displayed throughout Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo. VILLAGE VOICES featured photographs, artifacts, and soundscape recordings to celebrate and honor the artistic, social, political, and cultural movements that have grown in our neighborhoods, and the people who gave them […]

                  Jimmy Carter, Habitat for Humanity, and the East Village 

                  Former president Jimmy Carter and his late wife Rosalynn Carter were long at the forefront of Habitat for Humanity, the nonprofit that helps communities build new homes and improve existing residences. While the Carters’ work with the organization over nearly four decades brought them to neighborhoods in need across the country and around the world, […]

                  Three Stops on Christopher Street

                  Christopher Street is one of New York City’s oldest streets: known as Skinner Road in the 18th century, it was rechristened in 1799 by local landowner Charles Christopher Amos with the name it holds to this day. Filled with historic architecture and noteworthy sites including the Stonewall Inn and Christopher Park, the street remains relatively […]

                  Emma Lazarus and the Poem on Lady Liberty’s Pedestal

                  One of the most beloved features of the Statue of Liberty is the poem inscribed on a bronze plaque inside its pedestal. “Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” which appear in the middle of the work, have come to define what the statue has represented for generations. Those words […]

                    The Legacy of The Brownies’ Book

                    On October 10, 2023, Chronicle Books published The New Brownies’ Book: A Love Letter to Black Families. It’s an anthology assembled by Karida L. Brown and Charly Palmer that combines the work of more than 50 contemporary Black artists and writers with selections published over a century ago from the original Brownies’ Book. Published by […]

                    The Artists of the Greenwich Village Historic District

                    Greenwich Village has long been a mecca for artists and artistic endeavors. For over a century and a half, the neighborhood has fostered creative energy thanks in part to its charming streets, frequent interactions on those pathways between neighbors and fellow creators, a unique and strong sense of community, and (at times) cheap rents that […]

                    Dorothy Canning Miller: Champion of Abstract Expressionism

                    ”Congratulations, Dorothy, you’ve done it again. They all hate it.” So said Alfred H. Barr Jr., the first director of the Museum of Modern Art, to Dorothy Canning Miller, its first professionally trained curator, about the reaction to her exhibition “Americans 1942,” a show of 18 emerging artists that appalled both art critics and museum […]

                    The Lives of Writers #SouthOfUnionSquare

                    Today we’re celebrating the accomplishments of some historic writers and authors who made their mark in the neighborhood South of Union Square. Writing is one of the many creative professions that has thrived in this district (one that has yet to be recognized and protected by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, but you can help preserve […]

                    Small Businesses in the Historic Image Archive

                    Linda Yowell, architect and preservationist, recently donated a wide assortment of photos to Village Preservation’s Historic Image Archive, covering the 1970s through the late 1990s. Among them are images of small businesses that Yowell, who has also been a Village Preservation trustee since 1998, captured during that period. Some of the stores have long since […]

                    Touring the Churches of the East Village

                    The East Village is a neighborhood known for its rich history, diversity, and creative culture. That diversity includes the wealth of religious institutions found across the neighborhood, as highlighted by our Churches Tour on our East Village Building Blocks website. Covering a span from 1799 to 1970, stops on the tour include the oldest site […]

                    Exploring Historic Social Justice on Our Civil Rights Map

                    Launched in 2017, Village Preservation’s Civil Rights and Social Justice Map marks sites in our neighborhoods significant to the history of various civil rights and social justice movements, and now includes over 225 entries. Those sites are divided among six different groups, including one for social justice and other civil rights activism. Today we take […]

                      2023 Village Awardee: Yara Arts Group

                      Village Preservation is very proud to honor Yara Arts Group as a Village Awardee in 2023. Join us in recognizing Yara and these other worthy awardees at Village Preservation’s Annual Meeting and Village Awards on Tuesday, June 13. Registration is free and open to all! Established in 1990 by Virlana Tkacz, Wanda Phipps, and Watoku […]

                      2023 Village Awardee: Dashwood Books, 33 Bond Street

                      Village Preservation is very proud to honor Dashwood Books as a Village Awardee in 2023. Join us in recognizing Dashwood and these other worthy awardees at Village Preservation’s Annual Meeting and Village Awards on Tuesday, June 13. Registration is free and open to all! Established in September, 2005, Dashwood Books is New York’s only independent […]

                        Three Landmarks in the East Village

                        Walking through the East Village means walking through history. The neighborhood features 30 individual landmarks, one of the highest concentrations in the city, that offer a unique view of our architectural and cultural heritage. Some of those buildings were landmarked in the early days of the Landmarks Preservation Commission in the 1960s, others gained the […]

                        Christopher Park: A Small Space with a Long History

                        In the early 1800s, the area around modern-day Christopher Street was suffering from overcrowding, following the migration of residents from lower Manhattan after the yellow fever outbreak of 1822 that helped to create Greenwich Village. A devastating fire in 1835 led to residents calling for open space, and on April 5, 1837, they got their […]

                        On Course to Return a Spinning Cube to Astor Place

                        For most of its existence, pedestrians were able to freely and joyfully spin the black monolith known as the “Alamo” (more commonly referred to as the Astor Place Cube, or just “the Cube”) that sat between Lafayette Street and Cooper Square. That freedom to rotate came to an end in April 2022, after structural damage […]

                        Women’s History and Our Civil Rights Map

                        International Women’s Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. Of course we do that all year round as we explore the stories behind the streets, buildings and people of Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo, which are filled with remarkable women and advocates for the rights of women. Our research […]

                          Village Preservation Resources for African American History Month

                          Welcome to February, and African American History Month! Village Preservation has long documented the stories behind the streets, buildings and people of Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo. Those investigations have enabled us to offer several great resources to learn more about our neighborhoods, including our African American history, including our Civil Rights and […]

                          The Hole in the Highway at Gansevoort Street

                          The West Side Elevated Highway had been a dark presence looming over the edge of the Meatpacking District and other Hudson River Manhattan neighborhoods for several decades in the mid-20th century. Construction on the full route lasted from 1929 to 1951 as it snaked its way from West 72nd Street to Battery Place along 12th […]

                          The ‘Architect of the Century’ and the Salvation Army

                          In 1957, Ralph Walker was honored as “the architect of the century” by the American Institute of Architects. Walker (November 28, 1889–January 17, 1973) hit his peak in the profession during the height of the Art Deco period, bringing to life such New York City landmarks as the Barclay-Vesey Building at 140 West Street (completed […]

                          Oral History: Dining in Greenwich Village with Mimi Sheraton

                          Village Preservation shares our oral history collection with the public, highlighting some of the people and stories that make Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo such unique and vibrant neighborhoods. Each includes the experiences and insights of leaders or long-time participants in the arts, culture, preservation, business, or civic life. “Food was always a […]

                          Revisiting Kleindeutschland, the East Village’s Little Germany

                          On October 6, 1683, thirteen families arrived in Philadelphia and founded the first German settlement in North America. Since then, generations of Germans have immigrated to the United States, with the greatest influx arriving in the mid-19th century following the revolutions of 1848. Manhattan became a main destination for these immigrants, especially the East Village, […]

                            A Different Kind of Transit ‘Signal’ at Broadway-Lafayette

                            Deep below Broadway and Lafayette Street, in the passageway connecting the intersection’s namesake station with the Bleecker Street downtown platform, is an art installation that honors the communities who lived here centuries before the subway was even built. “Signal” by Mel Chin, in collaboration with G. Peter Jemison, was installed when the entire station was […]

                            Moving Locals Above Ground and Below: Mass Transit History in Our Communities

                            New York’s mass transit is the circulation system for our metropolis, allowing the city to survive and flourish even with the nation’s highest population density living in some very tight spaces. This is especially true of Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo, three communities that have a long history of train travel above and […]

                              Oral History: Ralph Lee’s Halloween

                              Ralph Lee’s interest in puppetry and theater began as a young boy in his family’s home in Middlebury, Vermont. An early creative spark launched him on a career that ultimately took him to the role he’s most often recognized for, as the “father” of Greenwich Village’s annual Halloween Parade.

                              2022 Village Awardee: Pageant Print Shop, 69 East 4th Street

                              Each year, Village Preservation honors the invaluable people, businesses, and organizations that make a special contribution to our neighborhoods at our Annual Meeting and Village Awards. This year, on June 14, 2022, at 6 PM we will be celebrating seven outstanding awardees — RSVP HERE to attend in person and HERE to participate virtually via […]

                              Village Preservation Plaques Highlight LGBTQ+ History Throughout Our Neighborhoods

                              On April 21, Village Preservation joined with the the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project to honor the city’s oldest gay bar and a pioneering event from the early days of the movement for LGBTQ+ rights. The honoree was Julius’ Bar at 159 West 10th Street and the notable event was the Sip-In. In the 1960s, […]

                              The Big Bank Heist at Broadway and Bleecker

                              Louis Werckle “is a little old man, of no physical strength, and of apparently less courage.” That’s how The New York Times snarkily described the janitor of the Manhattan Savings Institution on October 28, 1878, an innocent and unwilling participant in one of the greatest crimes of the 19th century, which took place smack dab […]