A family business lives on at 15 8th Avenue
In September of 2011, Off the Grid reported the discovery of a sign during changes to a storefront at 15 8th Avenue (between West 12th & Jane Streets). The sign, … Continued
Another Columbus Day without Landmark Protections for the South Village
Monday, October 8, is Columbus Day, a day of recognition of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the New World 520 years ago as well as a day to celebrate … Continued
Historic Station Sequel
Last week, amid the news of an added connection between the Broadway-Lafayette and Bleecker Street subway stations, we offered you the history of the Bleecker Street station, which is listed … Continued
A Mystery No More
As Curbed and EVGrieve recently pointed out, the renderings for a new building to be constructed on the long-empty lot between 13th and 14th Streets near 3rd Avenue were released … Continued
Celebrating Hispanic Culture in the Heart of the Old Little Spain
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place each year from September 15th to October 15th, we wanted to highlight an institution in our neighborhood that has dedicated … Continued
Storied Village Music Venue to Close
Kenny’s Castaways, the music venue which has been located on Bleecker Street near Thompson Street since 1976, will stage its last performance tonight. Citing rising rents and a decreased … Continued
Press Conference to Stop Upzoning of Chelsea Market
Despite the cloudy skies, today GVSHP was joined by community, affordable housing, and tenant groups from the Village and Chelsea to call upon the City Council to reject the proposed … Continued
Board of Standards and Appeals Green Lights Rooftop Additions in East Village
The Board of Standards and Appeals recently decided in favor of developers seeking to build rooftop additions at 329-335 East 9th Street and to allow illegally built additions to remain … Continued
Map It! Lots Shaped by Minetta Brook
Next in the Map It! series is an unusual quirk in our streetscapes that few people may have noticed. In fact, it wasn’t until last week when I was looking … Continued
“Flaw Fixed” at a Historic Station
Yesterday’s news headlines were abuzz with the phrase “subway flaw fixed,” in reference to today’s opening of the connection between the Broadway-Lafayette and Bleecker Street stations. As the New York … Continued
Remembering photojournalist and Westbeth resident Bettye Lane
Bettye Lane, a photojournalist who lived at Westbeth, died last Wednesday at the age of 82. She has been called the official photographer of the women’s movement and was one … Continued
Finally, East Village/Lower East Side Historic District Scheduled for Vote
We recently learned that the proposed East Village/Lower East Side Historic District has been scheduled for a vote by the Landmarks Preservation Commission on October 9. Since the district was … Continued
In Memoriam: Howard R. Moody
The Reverend Howard R. Moody, Minister Emeritus of Judson Memorial Church was born on April 13, 1921, and died on Tuesday, September 12, 2012 at the age of 91. Moody’s 35-year … Continued
Speak Up at the Hudson Sq. Rezoning Public Meeting Tonight!
We hope you can join us for tonight’s critical public hearing on the proposed Hudson Square rezoning at 6:30 pm at the Fire Museum, 278 Spring Street (Varick/Hudson Streets), 3rd … Continued
Then & Now: Seventh Avenue South
When I was home recently I looked through one of my parents’ photo albums and happened to find this photo of Seventh Avenue South taken at some point in the … Continued
Fashion Week Faux Pas
Part of GVSHP’s work with the community is our Preservation Watch program —a way to help ensure that landmarks, buildings, and zoning violations are reported and the law enforced, and … Continued
Fashion in the Park
With Fashion Week ending yesterday, we thought we’d wrap up our week with a look at some fashions of yesteryear in which the Village played a supporting role. The urban … Continued
What’s In a Name? The Fireman’s Memorial Garden
As we continue to document the research we have compiled on every building and site in the East Village, we run across some incredible stories of the neighborhood’s history. Such … Continued
A History of the East Village in 10 Objects
The New York Times recently published an amazing article titled “A History of New York in 50 Objects,” which was “inspired by ‘A History of the World in 100 Objects,’ … Continued
Finally! A Hearing for 27 E. 4th St. Today
Today, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) will be hearing the new building application for 27 East 4th Street, the site next to the landmarked Merchant’s House Museum. If you can … Continued
Happy 9th Birthday to the Gansevoort Market Historic District
This coming Sunday will mark the ninth anniversary of the designation of the Gansevoort Market Historic District. The first new district to be enacted in the Village since the first … Continued
Reminder: Critical Public Hearing Tonight
We hope you can join us for an incredibly important community board public hearing tonight that will affect the future of both the South Village and Hudson Square. It’s at … Continued
“On the Road” Published
The seminal tome of the Beat generation, Jack Kerouac’s novel, “On the Road,” was published on September 5, 1957. Though written in 1951 on a continuous 120 foot roll of … Continued
It’s Back to School at GVSHP’s Lecture Tonight!
Feeling the end-of-summer/back-to-school blues? Get back in the academic spirit this evening with our free lecture- C. B. J. Snyder’s School Design in the Village. Urban public schools are some … Continued
A Half Century Since the Passing of ee cummings
Off the Grid will be going, well, off the grid for the holiday weekend. While we’ll be celebrating the last days of summer, we must note that this Monday not … Continued
Before Stonewall: The “Sip In” at Julius’
GVSHP recently received an inquiry from a researcher looking for information about the historic 1966 “Sip In” that took place at the bar Julius’. This seminal protest, which challenged the … Continued
Few Republicans, And One Big Political Paradox, in the Village
As most everyone knows, we’re kind of map and statistics geeks here at Off The Grid. Thus it’s no surprise that a handy little tool put together by WNYC in … Continued
Documenting the Fight
In our continuing efforts to save 186 Spring Street in the South Village, we’ve highlighted the significant role the building played in the early LGBT rights movement. In the immediate … Continued
A Call for Consistency: LPC and 186 Spring Street
As we have covered in past Off the Grid posts, the South Village building at 186 Spring Street holds strong historical significance for its role in the Lesbian and Gay Civil … Continued
C.B.J. Snyder and P.S. 64
We hope you can join us for our upcoming lecture on Charles B. J. Snyder on Tuesday, September 4th (RSVP information). An architect and Superintendent of School Buildings from the … Continued
Yesteryear: The Theatre Unique
Today, we think of Times Square when we think of the theatre district, but over 100 years ago, 14th Street centered around Union Square was full of theatre houses. The … Continued
Press Conference to Save 186 Spring Street: Press Release and pictures
PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release August 22nd, 2012 EARLY GAY RIGHTS LANDMARK FACES DEMOLITION BUT CITY AND DEVELOPER REFUSE TO SAVE IT Gay Leaders and Preservationists Rally to Preserve Threatened … Continued
Spot the Shot: 229-231 East 12th Street
The building from this “Spot the Shot” post is at 229-231 East 12th Street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. “The Claremount” was constructed in 1901 by developer Max Weinberg, who … Continued
Women Like Beer Too
Walk into McSorley’s Old Ale House today and you will see an equal mix of the genders enjoying a beer. It’s hard to imagine that for 116 years this would … Continued
Jennifer Aniston Proposal at Storied Village Restaurant
Blue Hill, the one-star Michelin rated restaurant located on Washington Place between Washington Square Park and Sixth Avenue, just added another star to its roster. On August 10, actor-screenwriter … Continued
Spot the Shot: Do You Know the Location of This Building?
Do you know where this building is located? One of the most well known and talented families of Yiddish theater who also happened to own some of the theaters … Continued
Inside the LPC: Public Hearings vs. Public Meetings
So, why do we start this blog post with a photo of the Municipal Building located downtown across from City Hall? We thought we would dedicate some time here at … Continued
A Subway Substation — Then and Now
The familiar view above, taken in 1933, looks north on Greenwich Avenue (at Horatio Street) toward 14th Street and features the striking art deco Substation 235 of the New York … Continued
Carmine Street Garage on East 4th Street
Don’t let this title confuse you- it’s the magic of Hollywood! GVSHP’s favorite prohibition-era series Boardwalk Empire is back filming in the East Village today, in the empty lot next … Continued
An Unfortunate Facelift on East 12th Street
A 19th century row house on the south side of East 12th Street between Second and Third Avenues is currently undergoing a facelift, though we can’t say it’s for the … Continued
A Greenwich Village Guide: 1959
Although more and more of the research that GVSHP documents and shares is done online today, we also house a modest non-circulating resource library which contains fiction and non-fiction books, … Continued
Little India in the East Village
Many people know that the East Village is abundant with Ukrainian restaurants and Eastern European lunch counters. They also know that there are plenty of old-school Italian joints to get … Continued
Echoes of Eldridge Street Synagogue on East Eleventh Street
Nestled in the middle of a block of 11th Street between Avenues A & B are two tenements that share their history with one of the most well known and … Continued
NYC Department of City Planning launches new census data map
The real estate blog Curbed featured a look late last week at the Department of City Planning’s revamped census data map, a useful new tool for serious researchers looking to … Continued
Gore Vidal (1925 -2012) and Greenwich Village
Earlier this week, the world noted the passing of Gore Vidal, one of the great novelists, commentators, and agitators of the 20th century. Like almost every other figure to whom … Continued
Remembering the former Pennsylvania Station
On August 2, 1962, a group of concerned citizens protested in front of Pennsylvania Station, the McKim, Mead, and White Beaux Art structure in pink granite that spanned two full … Continued
Back To School
Amid the cast-iron facades of commercial and converted residential buildings between Broadway and University Place in the Village resides a large brick and brownstone institutional building. With its Police Athletic … Continued
Dog Days of Summer
It’s the dog days of summer here in New York City, so here at Off the Grid we thought we would share some “cool” images from the GVSHP archive.
Welcome to 1940s Greenwich Village
GVSHP recently came across a great website called 1940s New York. In 1943, four local newspapers published a New York City Market Analysis, which provided hundreds of photos & color-coded … Continued
Oppostion Ousted from City Council Vote on NYU 2031
On Wednesday the City Council voted 44-1 in favor of the NYU 2031 Plan. Since the very beginning GVSHP has advocated for a rejection of this plan and instead suggested … Continued
My Favorite Things: Archive Edition II
One of the most frequent questions we get at GVSHP is where to find historic photographs. We have focused on this topic before here at Off the Grid, but the … Continued
City Council Votes to Approve NYU Plan
Today the City Council chose to ignore thousands of New Yorkers and by far the majority of NYU faculty, staff, and workers who had called upon them to reject the … Continued
An Update on 27 East 4th Street
For a few months now, many of you have been following the proposal for a new nine-story hotel at 27 East 4th Street. The site, which currently holds a one-story … Continued
Adaptive Reuse in Chelsea
Simply put, adaptive reuse is defined as the process of adapting old structure for new uses. From a preservation perspective, adaptive reuse is often a wonderful way to preserve historic … Continued
The Truth About Open Space & The NYU Plan
Although NYU’s massive Village expansion plan was modestly reduced at this week’s City Council Land Use Committee meeting (the university would still get over 80% of what it proposed), if … Continued
NYU Development Battles Past and Present
The Atlantic Cities featured an article called “A Brief History of NYU Land Battles” on its site this past Tuesday, before the City Council Land Use Committee voted nearly unanimously … Continued
LGBT History and 186 Spring Street
In light of demolition plans that GVSHP uncovered for the Federal row house at 186 Spring Street, we recently discovered an incredible bit of history about the building. If surviving … Continued
History Repeats Itself – Significant Site in South Village to be Demolished
In 2008 NYU planned to demolish the Provincetown Playhouse to make way for a new law school building. Located at 133-139 MacDougal Street the Provincetown Playhouse was an incredibly significant … Continued
Mapping the Italian South Village
It’s no secret that preservationists often turn to maps for inspiration and research, but it isn’t all the time that a map can can lead to an extremely revealing discovery. … Continued
The 1863 Draft Riots and Abigail Hopper Gibbons
As Off the Grid chronicled last year, today is the anniversary of New York City’s draft riots, five days of rioting, looting, burning, and wanton violence that erupted after the … Continued
St. Anthony of Padua – Then and Now
St. Anthony of Padua Church has stood on Sullivan Street in the South Village since it was designed and built in 1886 by Arthur Crooks. St. Anthony’s is America’s earliest … Continued
Come Out to Weigh In on East Village Landmarks
Tomorrow, July 12th, marks a big day for landmark review in the East Village. That’s because Community Board 3‘s Landmarks Subcommittee will be holding its first public hearing regarding proposed … Continued
The New School vs. NYU — A Telling Comparison
The New School recently “topped out” its new “University Center” at 65 Fifth Avenue at 14th Street. With the building now having reached its full height and bulk, and the … Continued
Cool off at the Tony Dapolito Center
Summer makes one think of our public pools and recreation centers (whether they’re open or not). The first one that came to mind was the Tony Dapolito Center, which opened … Continued
Manic Panic – 35 Years of Making Our Lives More Colorful
You can’t watch a music video, open a fashion magazine or even walk down the street without seeing the latest fashion craze, Technicolor hair. Like so many fashion trends (mohawks … Continued
Greenwich Village Generals
This week, the Fourth of July holiday has us here at Off the Grid thinking about the connections the Village has to the Revolutionary War. While the Village remained a … Continued
Hot Dog Hottness
The food world is abuzz with anticipation of Joey Chestnut and the 97th annual Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest which takes place tomorrow. Although we love a good frank … Continued
AIDS Memorial Park Design Closer to Reality
A little over two months ago, Off the Grid covered a meeting regarding the proposed AIDS Memorial in the triangle park next to the former St. Vincent’s Hospital. The proposal, … Continued
Pride on West 13th Street
As June comes to a close, we wanted to celebrate Pride Month with a look at one of the great resources of our community, the LGBT Community Center. Located at … Continued
Tell the City Council–NYU’s Plans Are Too Big!
A reminder that tomorrow will likely be the most important day in our continuing fight against NYU’s massive proposed Village expansion plan. Beginning at 9:30 A.M. tomorrow, the City Council … Continued
Supporters Out in Force at East Village/Lower East Side Historic District Hearing
Yesterday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission held a designation hearing for the proposed East Village/Lower East Side Historic District. The hearing room was packed and overflowing with supporters of the district … Continued
Help St. Mark’s Bookshop Win a $250,000 Grant
Off the Grid recently reported on how St. Mark’s Bookshop, the beloved independent bookshop in the East Village that won a GVSHP Village Award in 2007, was able to successfully … Continued
Map It! Stuyvesant Street
Next in the Map It! series is Stuyvesant Street, which runs through the northern portion of the East Village between Second and Third Avenues. Today, it’s one of the shortest … Continued
Happy Birthday to Four NYC Landmark Districts
Two years ago today, the Greenwich Village Historic District Extension II, or what GVSHP terms the South Village Phase I District, was designated by the New York City Landmarks Preservation … Continued
Take a Stroll Through the History of our Neighborhoods’ Parks
Jonathan Kuhn, a long-time Village resident who is also the Director of Art & Antiquities at the Department of Parks and Recreation, has curated an exhibition at Central Park’s Arsenal … Continued
Save the Date – East Village/Lower East Side Historic District Hearing – June 26
On Tuesday, June 26 the Landmarks Preservation Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed East Village/Lower East Side Historic District. This historic district was proposed last year by … Continued
Prohibition is Back
Right around this time last year, we were more than excited by the filming of Boardwalk Empire at nearby restaurant John’s of 12th Street (check out photos from the filming … Continued
Peter, Paul and Mary: All Over This Village
Fifty years ago, in May of 1962, folk group Peter, Paul and Mary released their self-titled debut album. The group went on to become one of the most, if not … Continued
Gen. Slocum Anniversary in the Run Up to East Village Landmark Hearing
Today is the 108th anniversary of the General Slocum disaster. The greatest loss of life in New York City before 9/11, this singularly important event had a particularly profound impact … Continued
On This Day: Gansevoort Market Opens
On June 14, 1884 – or 128 years ago today – a municipally-sanctioned public market was opened on the five-sided block bounded by Little West Twelfth, Washington, Gansevoort, West Streets … Continued
Save the Date: June 29th @ City Hall
Start spreading the news — the City Council’s public hearing on NYU’s massive proposed Village expansion plan has been set for Friday, June 29th at 9:30 am in the Council … Continued
190 Homes for 190 Years
Yesterday, the real estate and architecture blog-o-sphere was abuzz with Property Shark’s new interactive timeline, NYC Homes: Two Centuries of Architecture, spanning 1821 to 2011. They created this feature … Continued
Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony Pictures Now Available
On Thursday, June 7, GVSHP presented its 32nd Annual Meeting and 2012 Village Awards. The 2012 Awardees and a full recap are all featured on Off The Grid. Be sure … Continued
Villagers Feted at GVSHP’s Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony
Last evening, 400 guests celebrated the accomplishments of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation and eight Village businesses, people, and organizations at GVSHP’s Annual Meeting at The New School’s … Continued
City Councilmember Rosie Mendez: 2012 Village Award Winner
At a time when over-development is an ever-present threat in our Village neighborhoods, City Councilmember Rosie Mendez has distinguished herself as a staunch advocate for historic preservation and zoning protections. … Continued
Bleecker Street Sitting Area Renovation: 2012 Village Award Winner
Completed in the spring of this year, the spectacular renovation of the small park at the corner of Bleecker and West 11th streets was the result of a true community … Continued
The Lower East Side History Project: 2012 Village Award Winner
Fourth generation Lower East Side resident Eric Ferrara has always been interested in the history of his community. In 2003, he made his commitment to researching, documenting, and preserving the … Continued
Arturo’s: 2012 Village Award Winner
Arturo’s, best known for its delicious coal-oven pizza, first opened on MacDougal Street in 1957 before moving to its current location on Houston and Thompson Streets in the early sixties. … Continued
Foods of New York Tours: 2012 Village Award Winner
Foods of New York Tours was unofficially launched in 1998 by Todd Lefkovic, a New Jersey native who started coming to the Village in 1977. What began as a sideline … Continued
Developer Seeks Variances from Board of Standards and Appeals for Rooftop Additions at 329-335 East 9th Street
On June 5 the Board of Standards and Appeals will hold a hearing for variances sought by the owner of 329-335 East 9th Street to build rooftop additions. The developer’s … Continued
LREI: 2012 Village Award Winner
Educator, psychologist, and reformer Elisabeth Irwin founded the Little Red School House, an experimental curriculum within PS 61 in the Village, ninety years ago. While the school has grown over … Continued
6th and B Garden: 2012 Village Award Winner
The many community gardens of New York City were developed as the City tore down abandoned buildings in some of the worst neighborhoods and the community worked together to reclaim … Continued
Viva Loisaida!
This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Loisaida Festival, a celebration of Latino culture, community, and the arts. Marlis Momber, a commercial photographer who moved to and began documenting … Continued
Howard Johnson’s in Greenwich Village
The show Mad Men reminded us all that Howard Johnson’s, that slice of mass-produced Americana, had a home in Greenwich Village in the mid-20th century, even as Greenwich Village was … Continued
Marilyn Appleberg: 2012 Village Award Winner
It is hard to imagine East 10th and Stuyvesant Streets today without thinking about neighborhood resident and activist Marilyn Appleberg. Marilyn has worked tirelessly as an advocate for the blocks … Continued
A Campus Comparison
As part of its massive proposed Village expansion plan, NYU is seeking to build 2.5 million sq. ft. of space – the equivalent of the Empire State Building – on … Continued
Landmark Bid Pays Off at Former Horse Auction Mart!
We’re thrilled to announce that last week the Landmarks Preservation Commission unanimously voted to confer individual landmark status on one of our favorite East Village buildings: the former Van Tassell … Continued
Help Us Celebrate Justus Schwab!
“On Saturdays when I did not have to lecture, we used to visit the saloon of Justus Schwab, the most famous radical center in New York. Schwab was the traditional … Continued
Have You Heard of the Green Book?
No, it’s not about recycling and no, it’s not a list of past dates. It’s a New York City resource that lists contact information for all city agencies and many … Continued
What’s Happening Here? Eighth Avenue and 13th Street
Walking near Jackson Square in the West Village, you may have wondered what will become of the site of the former Lukoil gas station. Located at the southwest corner of … Continued
