No. 139 Thompson Street is a neo-Grec style brick tenement built in 1875 in the South Village which Village Preservation worked for over a decade to get landmarked in 2016 as part of the Sullivan Thompson Historic District. The longtime owner of the building neglected it and allowed it to fall into a desperate state of disrepair, using the conditions to force longtime residents of its 19 units — 12 of them affordable rent regulated ones — out of their homes. Now he’s seeking to be rewarded for this behavior by asking the Landmarks Preservation Commission to allow him to demolish the building and replace it with a new one with just six super-luxury units of housing.

There is no evidence that this building can’t be repaired, and ample evidence that its condition is the result of neglect and worse by the owner. Its twin next door at 137 Thompson Street, built together with it in 1875, remains in perfect condition, fully occupied.

We and Councilmember Marte are strongly opposed to the application being heard Tuesday at the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) to allow demolition and replacement of the building, which would destroy history, destroy housing and affordable housing, and reward bad behavior.

TO HELP:

Watch and share our video calling for the preservation of 139 Thompson Street HERE.