This program is co-sponsored by the Victorian Society New York, East Village Community Coalition, and the Lower East Side Preservation Initiative
Join us this Bastille Day for a fun and enlightening talk about “French Flats,” which first began to appear in New York not long after the Civil War, and by the end of the 19th century had completely changed the way New Yorkers lived.
Until the late 19th century, no New Yorker of means lived in what we would now call an apartment, other than as a temporary measure. Private homes were the only appropriate place of residence for those well off enough to chose where and how they lived. But a new concept slowly entered bloodstream of our city, very consciously pegged to Parisian models, as an acceptable and later even a desirable way for middle and upper class New Yorkers to live. By the beginning of the 20th century, apartment living had become the height of chicness in New York, and no longer needed to allude to European models to achieve a veneer of respectability and acceptance.
We’ll take a look at how and why this revolution in housing took place in our city, examining the very first examples, and then honing in on how, where, and why French Flats spread throughout Greenwich Village and the East Village.
While many of these groundbreaking first-generation early models of affluent apartment living are long gone, a surprising number survive all around us in our midst. While a few may be obvious to spot, many more hide in plain sight, providing only the faintest of clues to their original function and profound significance.
This lecture coincides with Village Preservation’s release of its new StoryMap, offering a guide to the history of French flats and their presence throughout Greenwich Village and the East Village.
Founded in New York City in 1966, the Victorian Society in America is dedicated to fostering the appreciation and preservation of our nation’s 19th-century heritage as well as that of the early 20th-century (1837–1917). The Victorian Society New York (VSNY), the oldest of numerous chapters now flourishing throughout the USA, is an independent nonprofit organization affiliated with the national Society.
The East Village Community Coalition (EVCC) works to foster a neighborhood where residents, businesses, and stakeholders unite to shape a vibrant and sustainable future. Through outreach, research, and advocacy, we protect the rich culture and history of the East Village, champion local businesses, and promote practices that prioritize sustainability. With long-standing programs, dynamic partnerships, and a readiness to tackle emerging challenges, the EVCC empowers our neighbors and strengthens our community.
Lower East Side Preservation Initiative: we’re local residents and preservationists who want to preserve what’s left of the historic architecture and streetscapes of Manhattan’s historic Lower East Side. This area, which is one of the city’s – and country’s – most diverse and historically rich communities, includes such neighborhoods as the East Village, Lower East Side below Houston St., Chinatown, Little Italy, and the Bowery, extending from East 14th Street south to Fulton and Franklin Streets, and Broadway east to the East River. We’re a grassroots not-for-profit organization, formed in 2007.
Our lecturers are:
Andrew Berman has been Executive Director of Village Preservation since 2002. Andrew is an architectural historian and lifelong New Yorker who worked on development and preservation issues in Greenwich Village, Lower Manhattan, and the West Side for more than three decades.
Dena Tasse-Winter is a historic preservationist, writer, and Village Preservation’s own Director of Research and Preservation. A native New Yorker and Greenwich Village resident, she holds an MA in Historic Preservation and Cultural Heritage Management from the University of York, U.K., and a BA in Music History from the University of Rochester.
- Date
- Monday, July 14, 2025
- Time
- 6:00 pm
- Details
Virtual
Free
Pre-registration required