GVHD50 Panel: Landmark Expansions at Church of the Village

When Shirley Hayes, Verna Small, Jane Jacobs, Ruth Wittenberg, and other Village activists succeeded in getting the Greenwich Village Historic District (GVHD) designated in 1969, they did what no one had ever done before – securing landmark protections for over 2,200 buildings and nearly 100 blocks. As expansive and impressive as that victory was, much of Greenwich Village was left without protections. In the intervening fifty years, four new historic districts, two extensions of the GVHD, and a few dozen individual landmarks have been added, some only after long and bitter battles. Much still needs to be done.

Village Preservation Executive Director Andrew Berman will review the battles of the last fifty years – what was won and how, what was lost, and what still needs doing. He’ll also look at Jane Jacobs’ original plea for comprehensive landmark protections for Greenwich Village, and see how much of that vision has been fulfilled.

This event is fully accessible – wheelchair entrance on West 13th Street. This program is part of our year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Greenwich Village Historic District. Learn more at gvshp.org/gvhd50.