A large section of our Village Preservation Oral History Collection focuses on Preservation History, and a majority of these preservationists are women. These women didn’t just save buildings, they saved community and sense of place and purpose. Today we focus on four pioneering women whose legacies continue to protect the character of our neighborhoods. Margot […]
February is Black History Month. At Village Preservation, we celebrate it by highlighting not only the many sites of significance to the African-American community within our neighborhoods, but also the neighbors who have helped shape our history and local culture. Our series of oral histories seeks to capture their legacies and tell their stories. Today, […]
As spring unfolds, our neighborhoods’ many green spaces become even more enticing. For some, it’s trips to our parks to lay out on the grass; for others, volunteering at one of the many community gardens that dot our streets. Regardless of your preference, having these green spaces available helps make our community vibrant and livable. […]
This past Saturday morning, after a cooling rain shower, a gaggle of curious people went traipsing around a handful of community gardens in the East Village. We visited eight gardens, plus the Wilmer Jennings Gallery, in just two hours, hearing from garden members at each one. Members are the people who actually do the work of […]
Not so long ago, there were 57 community gardens sprinkled along the streets of the East Village and Lower East Side – registered with the Parks Department’s GreenThumb program, that is; in total there were even more. Now there are 46. A coalition of gardeners, advocates and officials has just taken action to ensure that […]
When you’ve been involved in a struggle since last century – 16 long years – you don’t let an opportunity to celebrate pass by. Some 200 East Villagers, elected officials and others did just that yesterday, on a sunny street in front of a dilapidated building. The building – a grand public school opened in […]
