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Category: Advocacy Campaigns

The Tony Dapolito Recreation Center – Architecture & Planning in the Greenwich Village Historic District

At the corner of Clarkson Street and Seventh Avenue South is a building that for over a century in various iterations has served the Greenwich Village community and stood as an iconic piece of civic architecture reflecting both the evolution of the neighborhood and the important role of public buildings in its development. Now known as the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center, its future is very much in doubt because of redevelopment plans by the city, and Village Preservation has been leading the efforts by stakeholders for its preservation through a strong campaign.

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The South Village: Celebrating the Preservation of Culture and Architecture

Village Preservation kicked off its campaign to honor, document, and seek landmark designation for the South Village and its remarkable immigrant and bohemian histories in December of 2006 and completed the effort in December of 2016 with designation of the third and final phase of our proposed South Village Historic District, the largest expansion of landmark protections in the […]

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Most Holy Redeemer Church: Cultural Heritage

Village Preservation is working with fellow local preservation organizations and parishioners to preserve the endangered, historic Most Holy Redeemer Church at 173 East 3rd Street, between Avenues A and B in the East Village. The church was once one of the city’s tallest structures. Founded in 1844 by German-speaking Redemptorist missionaries amid the growing German […]

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Annual Report Highlights Village Preservation’s Growth and Successes, and Pays Tribute to Our Past

Contained within 24 colorful and informative pages, Village Preservation’s 2024–2025 Annual Report paints a vivid picture of an organization deeply committed to protecting the architectural and cultural legacy of Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo, while pushing forward with innovative community educational programs.  Advocacy remained central to Village Preservation’s mission over the last year, […]

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Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act: Win-Win Solution or Reckless Deregulation?

The “Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act” (FBAHA) has been reintroduced in the current New York State legislative session, and Village Preservation Executive Director Andrew Berman participated in a recent panel hosted by the City Club of New York to discuss this proposed legislation and share his concerns. Joining him were urban planning consultant George Janes, Sisters […]

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Celebrating the Rich Tapestry of May in Our Neighborhoods

The month of May bursts with meaning in New York City, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the historic and diverse neighborhoods of Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo. May is Haitian Heritage Month, Asian American And Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Lower East Side History Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, and National […]

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19th Century Irish Immigrant Community Building #SouthOfUnionSquare

As we continue to research the historically and architecturally significant area South of Union Square, we uncover more important history that unfolded in the area every day. Recently, we discovered the presence of philanthropist, businessman, and Irish immigrant Andrew Carrigan, who helped transform the lives of Irish immigrants in New York in the 19th century, […]

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Opposing Gov. Hochul’s Proposal to Allow Supersized Development in NYC Neighborhoods

Earlier this month, Governor Hochul proposed eliminating the longstanding, reasonable, and necessary cap on the size of residential developments in New York State, which limits it to a floor area ratio of 12 (12 FAR). To give context, the over 1000-ft.-tall supertall towers of 57th Street’s “Billionaire’s Row” were built under zoning that only allows […]

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#SouthOfUnionSquare, the Birthplace of American Modernism: Isabel Bishop

“South of Union Square, the Birthplace of American Modernism” is a series that explores how the built environment south of Union Square shaped some of the most influential American artists of the 20th century.  The area south of Union Square in the mid-to-late 20th century was one that readily attracted painters, writers, publishers, and radical […]

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Opponents Overwhelm Six-Hour City Planning SoHo/NoHo Rezoning Hearing; City’s Baseless Claims of Racism Face Backlash; Elected Officials Join Opposition

Some important updates on the SoHo/NoHo rezoning fight: Opponents Swamp Supporters at Public Hearing: Around 100 people testified at yesterday’s City Planning Commission public hearing, even though it was held just prior to the Labor Day weekend and as the city was still reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Ida, showing this administration’s contempt for […]

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Village Preservation’s Juan Rivero speaking at yesterday’s rally with Christopher Marte and Congressmember Jerrold Nadler.

City Planning Commission SoHo/NoHo Upzoning Hearing This Thursday, September 2, 10 am

Virtual and In-Person Testimony Allowed Borough President Holds Five-Hour Public Hearing, Withholds Recommendation Opponents Including Incoming and Past Councilmembers Urge Rejection The City Planning Commission will hold its sole public hearing on the massive SoHo/NoHo Upzoning plan this Thursday beginning at 10 am. Virtual and in-person testimony at 120 Broadway’s basement concourse hearing room will […]

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Village Preservation’s Juan Rivero leading the August 23 press conference with past and future SoHo/NoHo/Chinatown City Councilmembers urging rejection of the plan.

Huge Turnout for SoHo/NoHo Hearing, Housing/Tenant and Neighborhood Groups United in Opposition

We had a huge and united turnout on Wednesday at our press conference opposing the Mayor’s outrageous SoHo/NoHo rezoning plan and the Community Board 2 public hearing that followed. We were joined by local, city, and statewide affordable housing/tenant groups, SoHo, NoHo, Chinatown, and Lower East Side groups, and citywide and statewide historic preservation organizations to […]

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The Empress of Blues, South of Union Square

Nicknamed “The Empress of Blues,” Bessie Smith was one of the most popular female blues singers of the 1920s and 30s. She influenced many vocalists who followed her, from Janis Joplin to Anita Baker. Her songs spoke to and about working people, African Americans, liberated women, and their (and anyone else’s) everyday troubles. Her “spoken […]

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Celebrating Chino García, co-founder of CHARAS/El Bohío

In 2015, Village Preservation conducted an oral history with community organizer Carlos “Chino” García, one of the co-founders of the legendary community organization CHARAS. CHARAS for many years occupied the landmarked former P.S. 64 building on East 9th Street in the East Village. That interview gave some unique, first person insights into one of the […]

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Sign The Petition to NYC Mayoral Candidates: Our Next Mayor Must Value Preserving Landmarks and Neighborhoods

The campaign for Mayor of New York City is in full swing, with primary elections June 22. The next Mayor needs to know that historic preservation makes for a better and more resilient NYC — it encourages investment and economic development, it’s green, it helps preserve, protect, and uplift diverse histories and communities, and makes […]

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