Promoting Diversity and Civil Rights History

Village Preservation has long made a priority of elevating, preserving, and celebrating the histories and contributions of underrepresented groups in our neighborhoods including African Americans, LGBTQ people, women, immigrants, the Latinx community, and Asian Americans. We also advocate for policies for our neighborhoods that promote racial and socio-economic diversity.

Write Mayor Adams to Protect 50 West 13th Street

Help support the landmark designation of 50 West 13th Street, home of African American civil rights leader Jacob Day and the 13th Street Repertory Theatre.

Urge City Officials to Landmark 285-287 East 3rd Street

Tell Landmarks Preservation to honor the legacy of Steve Cannon with 285-287 East 3rd Street’s designation as a landmark.

Women’s Rights and Civil Rights Landmarks South of Union Square Deserve Protection

A remarkable concentration of sites connected to the civil rights movements of LGBTQ+ people, women, and African Americans are located in the area south of Union Square. They deserve recognition and protection, as they are currently vulnerable to alteration, demolition, and replacement.

Civil Rights and Social Justice

Civil Rights and Social Justice Map

Civil Rights and Social Justice Tour – South of Union Square

Leftist and Labor Tour – South of Union Square

Greenwich Village Historic District: Then & Now Photos and Tours

African American History

In Memoriam: African American Artists of Westbeth

African American Sites in our East Village Building Blocks

African American History Tour – South of Union Square

Children’s Education – African American History, Greenwich Village and Beyond

Greenwich Village Historic District: Then & Now Photos and Tours

LGBTQ History

LGBTQ History Tour – South of Union Square

LGBTQ Sites in our East Village Building Blocks

Civil Rights and Social Justice Map

Greenwich Village Historic District: Then & Now Photos and Tours

Jewish History

Yiddish Rialto Tour in our East Village Building Blocks

Synagogues Tour in our East Village Building Blocks

Jewish History Tour – South of Union Square

Greenwich Village Historic District: Then & Now Photos and Tours

Women's History

Women’s History Tour – South of Union Square

19th Amendment Centennial StoryMap

Greenwich Village Historic District: Then & Now Photos and Tours

Campaign Links

Press

Images & Graphs

Video from the virtual Jane Jacobs plaque unveiling

10/30/2020

Photos and Video from the Elizabeth Blackwell Plaque unveiling

05/14/2018

Photos and Video from the Alex Haley Plaque unveiling

05/15/2019

Photos and Video from the Lorraine Hansberry cultural medallion unveiling

10/16/2017

Photos and video from the 27 Cooper Square plaque unveiling

06/20/2017

Video and Photos from the Jean-Michel Basquiat plaque unveiling

07/13/2016

Video and Photos from the James Baldwin plaque unveiling

10/07/2015

Video and photos from the Martha Graham plaque unveiling

06/18/2015

Video and photos from the Frank O’Hara plaque unveiling

06/10/2014

PFLAG plaque unveiling

06/23/2013

PFLAG National Memorial For Founder Jeanne Manford

04/03/2013

Protect Our Pride – Julius’

06/16/2015

LPC Stonewall Calendaring Presentation

06/02/2015

Stonewall District National Register of Historic Places Images

Village Preservation Press Conference to Save 186 Spring Street

08/23/2012

Letters & Docs

Village Preservation letter to Mayor Adams to preserve 50 West 13th Street 01/14/2022

Village Preservation letter to Manhattan Borough President Brewer on SoHo/NoHo 08/18/2021

Joint community group letter to electeds regarding SoHo-NoHo certification 05/27/2021

Village Preservation Letter in Support of the Dorrance Brooks Historic District 04/19/2021

CB 3 Manhattan Resolution Calling for the Reconsideration by the LPC of the RFE for 88 East 10th Street 03/24/2021

Manhattan Borough President Brewer Testimony to Landmarks Preservation Commission on 70 Fifth Avenue 03/23/2021

Village Preservation’s testimony in support of the designation of the LGBT Community Center 06/04/2019

Village Preservation’s testimony in support of the designation of the Gay Activist Alliance Firehouse 06/04/2019

Village Preservation’s testimony in support of the designation of Caffe Cino 06/04/2019

Support Letters for Julius' Landmarking Proposal 03/14/2016

Request for Designation: Julius' Bar/ 159 West 10th Street 01/14/2016

Stonewall Inn Designation Report 06/23/2015

Press Release: LPC to Consider Stonewall Inn a Landmark 06/02/2015

Follow Up Letter to LPC on Request for Preservation for LGBT Sites 04/22/2015

LGBT Support Letters 02/20/2014

NYS Dept. of Preservation Eligibility for Julius' Bar 12/17/2012

Letter of Request for Eligibility for Julius' Bar 12/05/2012

NYS Dept. of Preservation Eligibility for 186 Spring Street 09/07/2012

Letter to LPC with Additional Information on 186 Spring Street 09/05/2012

Letter to NY State SHPO Requesting Determination of Eligibility for 186 Spring Street 08/31/2012

Stonewall Gains Federal Recognition on its 30th Anniversary 06/21/1999

Reports & Analysis

SoHo/NoHo Upzoning: The Demographic Disguise 08/17/2021

Community Alternative Zoning Plan for SoHo/NoHo 04/26/2021

UPZONING SOHO AND NOHO Report: Why the City’s Rezoning Plan Will Decrease Socio-Economic Diversity and Reduce Net Affordable Housing 03/05/2021

Landmark Proposals

Village Preservation's Request for Evaluation on 285-287 East 3rd Street 04/08/2021

Village Preservation's Letter to the Landmarks Preservation Commission with further information regarding unprotected 88 East 10th Street south of Union Square, home of sculptor Selma Hortense Burke 02/17/2021

Village Preservation's Letter to the Landmarks Preservation Commission with further information regarding unprotected 50 West 13th Street, home of abolitionist Jacob Day 02/05/2021

Village Preservation's Letter to the Landmarks Preservation Commission with further information regarding unprotected landmarks of Women’s History south of Union Square 02/05/2021

Village Preservation's Letter to the Landmarks Preservation Commission with further information regarding unprotected 49-59 and 60-80 Fifth Avenue south of Union Square, notable sites in civil-rights history 04/07/2020

Village Preservation's Letter to the Landmarks Preservation Commission with further information regarding unprotected 70 and 80 Fifth Avenue south of Union Square, former headquarters of the NAACP and National Gay Task Force 02/12/2020

Village Preservation's Letter to the Landmarks Preservation Commission with further information regarding numerous unprotected buildings south of Union Square noteworthy for their history in civil rights 09/24/2019

Stonewall National Historic Landmark Nomination 02/16/2000

Updates

January 18, 2022

Highlighting Landmarking Effort for 50 West 13th Street’s African American Voting Rights Crusader on MLK Day
Read More
November 23, 2021

New Oral History: Ayo Harrington and the Struggles for Civil Rights, Urban Homesteading, Community Gardens, and Educational Equality
Read More
September 24, 2021

State Rules South of Union Square Eligible for State and National Registers of Historic Places, while City Allows Demolition of Historic Site to Proceed
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September 24, 2021

Join Us Monday, September 27, at 6 pm for Anaïs Nin Plaque Virtual Unveiling Ceremony
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September 16, 2021

Village Preservation To Unveil Plaque Honoring Anaïs Nin #SouthOfUnionSquare on Sept. 27
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August 19, 2021

Details on SoHo/NoHo Hearings, New Data Shows Falsehoods and Lies Behind Rezoning
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May 19, 2021

Victory! 70 Fifth Avenue Landmarked; Continue the Fight for South of Union Square
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April 16, 2021

Challenging the Landmarks Preservation Commission to Abide By Its ‘Equity Framework’
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March 22, 2021

Landmarks Hearing On 70 Fifth Avenue in Proposed South of Union Square Historic District Tomorrow at 10am
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March 5, 2021

Study: City’s Proposed SoHo/NoHo Upzoning Would Make Neighborhoods Richer, Whiter, and More Expensive
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March 1, 2021

Women’s History Month: Celebrate, Honor, Preserve Women’s History
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February 18, 2021

Black History Month Advocacy: African American Artist and Educator Selma Hortense Burke’s Home at 88 East 10th Street
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February 1, 2021

Celebrate African American History Month and the Elizabeth Blackwell Bicentennial and Join Us in Fighting to Protect This Critical History
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January 26, 2021

New African-American History Curriculum for Children’s Education Program
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January 26, 2021

New South of Union Square History and Podcast
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January 20, 2021

After 2 1/2 Year Campaign, City Agrees to Consider 70 Fifth Avenue, South of Union Square, For Landmark Designation
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January 18, 2021

Honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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July 2, 2020

Celebrate LGBTQ Pride (Virtually) With Village Preservation
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June 8, 2020

Black Lives, Black Histories
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June 5, 2020

In Memoriam: African American Artists of Westbeth
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February 14, 2020

Honoring and Protecting LGBT history in the Village
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February 12, 2020

Battle for Landmark Protections for South of Union Square Includes Historic NAACP and National Gay Task Force Headquarters
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June 16, 2019

AFTER FIVE YEAR CAMPAIGN BY VILLAGE PRESERVATION, CITY LANDMARKS LGBT HISTORIC SITES Sites are City’s First LGBT Landmarks Since Successful 2015 Campaign to Landmark Stonewall Inn
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June 3, 2019

LGBT Landmarks to be Heard Tomorrow – Send a Letter Today
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May 14, 2019

After Four Year Campaign, City Calendars LGBT Historic Sites in Greenwich Village
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Berenice Abbott’s Greenwich Village with Lucie Levine