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.

Recognize and Preserve Black History Landmarks

Key Black history sites in Greenwich Village and the East Village are unprotected and vulnerable to demolition. These sites must no longer be overlooked, ignored, or undervalued.

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.

Preserve + Protect Women’s History Landmarks South of Union Square

Recognize and protect more than 20 women’s history sites South of Union Square, and support designation of the area as a historic district.

Protect Julius’ Bar and other important sites of LGBT history

Tell the Mayor and LPC chair to formally recognize and protect additional sites of incredible importance to LGBT history such as Julius’ Bar.
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

Oral Histories

Ola and Fawzy Abdelwahed
Penny Arcade
Tom Bernardin
Albert Fabozzi
Chino Garcia
Margot Gayle
Frances Goldin
Barbara Kahn
Jane Jacobs
Barbara Kahn
Wolf Kahn
Maria Kenny
Michael E. Levine
Peter Longo
Gloria McDarrah
Jonas Mekas
Marlis Momber
Valerio Orselli
Andrew & Romana Raffetto
David Rothenberg
Peter Ruta
Robert Sanfiz
Beverly Moss Spatt
Virlana Tkacz
Rich Wandel
Robert Zerilli

Campaign Links

Press
Images & Graphs

Photos and video of plaque unveiling ceremony at 70 Fifth Avenue

05/10/2022

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 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 letter to LPC to protect landmarks of women’s history South of Union Square 02/25/2021
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 letter for landmark designation of former Colored School No. 4, 128 West 17th Street 11/03/2021
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

  • May 13, 2022

    Plaque Unveiled at 70 Fifth Avenue Honoring Civil Rights History: Video and Photos

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  • May 6, 2022

    Speakers Announced for Tuesday 6 pm Plaque Unveiling at 70 Fifth Avenue Honoring the NAACP and Early 20th Century Social Justice Organizations

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  • May 6, 2022

    May Is Jewish History Month and Asian American/Pacific Islander History Month

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  • May 2, 2022

    Plaque Unveiling Tuesday May 10 at 70 Fifth Avenue, Former NAACP Headquarters and Center for Social Justice Activism

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  • April 15, 2022

    Plaque Unveiling Next Thursday 6 pm Marking Julius’ Bar and 1966 ‘Sip In’ for Gay Rights

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  • March 16, 2022

    Explore the Rich Irish History of Our Neighborhoods

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  • March 8, 2022

    South of Union Square History IS Women’s History

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  • March 1, 2022

    Join Us To Explore, Celebrate, and Advocate to Preserve Women’s History in March

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  • February 1, 2022

    This Black History Month, Village Preservation Invites You to Explore, Celebrate, and Advocate for Preserving Significant but Unprotected Black History Sites in Our Neighborhoods

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  • January 18, 2022

    Highlighting Landmarking Effort for 50 West 13th Street’s African American Voting Rights Crusader on MLK Day

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  • November 23, 2021

    New Oral History: Ayo Harrington and the Struggles for Civil Rights, Urban Homesteading, Community Gardens, and Educational Equality

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  • 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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