Village Preservation - Greenwich Village Society For Historic Preservation

Village Preservation - Greenwich Village Society For Historic Preservation Preserving the Village, East Village and NoHo since 1980! Check out www.villagepreservation.org for m

Village Preservation was founded in 1980 to preserve the architectural heritage and cultural history of Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo. We are a leader in protecting the sense of place and human scale that define the Village’s unique community. Our programs include: Educational outreach in the form of public lectures, tours, exhibitions, and publications; a school program that teaches children about Greenwich Village history and architecture; leadership on expanding landmark and zoning protections in our neighborhoods and fighting inappropriate development; preservation projects that promote an understanding of the Village's historic importance, such as the Village Preservation Archive, our Oral History Project, and our Historic Plaques Program; small business promotion, through our business of the month program; recognition of the community leaders, institutions, businesses, and additions to our streetscapes which add to the special quality of our neighborhoods through our Annual Village Awards; and our Continuing Education program, which teaches real estate professionals about the value of historic preservation. Village Preservation has successfully advocated for the landmark designation of more than 1,250 buildings in our neighborhoods, and has helped secure zoning protections for nearly 100 blocks. Each day we monitor more than 6,500 building lots in our neighborhood for demolition, alteration, or new construction permits, so the organization can notify the public and respond if necessary. And each day we also monitor the more than 3,000 landmarked properties in our neighborhood for applications for changes which must go through a public review and approval process, to also notify the public and respond as needed. We also report and advocate for appropriate resolution of landmarks and zoning violations in our neighborhood, to help protect the special built environment and character. Each year on the first Sunday in May, Village Preservation holds an Annual Village House Tour and reception, both to raise funds to support our work and to highlight and celebrate the incredible irreplaceable architecture of our neighborhoods.

Pop Art pioneer Peter Max, who recently passed away at almost 89 years, defined the visual identity of the 1960s with hi...
09/18/2026

Pop Art pioneer Peter Max, who recently passed away at almost 89 years, defined the visual identity of the 1960s with his bold line work, radiant rainbows, and electric Day-Glo palettes. But his cosmic style didn't emerge in a vacuum; it was deeply rooted right here in our neighborhoods.

Read about his incredible journey from WWII refugee as a child to pop culture icon: https://villagepreservation.org/2026/09/18/the-vibrant-visual-world-of-peter-max/

In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re looking at outstanding “Loisaida” individuals and organizations who’ve ...
09/17/2026

In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re looking at outstanding “Loisaida” individuals and organizations who’ve been recognized with one of our Village Awards over the years. This includes activist Chino Garcia, LUNGS, and many others who’ve reflected this neighborhood’s Hispanic heritage and worked to make it a better place: https://villagepreservation.org/.../honoring-loisaida.../

On this day in 1897, plans are filed for the Bayard Condict Building at 65 Bleecker Street (at Crosby Street), Louis Sul...
09/17/2026

On this day in 1897, plans are filed for the Bayard Condict Building at 65 Bleecker Street (at Crosby Street), Louis Sullivan’s only work in New York City. The lyrical masterpiece, completed two years later, went through some hard times in the mid-to-late 20th century, when much of its ground floor ornament was removed and its florid architectural detail underappreciated. However, thanks to landmark designation and a thoughtful restoration in the early 21st-century (for which they received one of our Village Awards), the building shines again as a testament to this great architect’s innovative genius.

Read more about the Bayard Condict Building at  https://villagepreservation.org/2011/08/03/a-proud-and-soaring-thing/

On this day in 1998, 34½ East 12th Street was designated an individual NYC landmark. Built in 1855 as a school for girls...
09/15/2026

On this day in 1998, 34½ East 12th Street was designated an individual NYC landmark. Built in 1855 as a school for girls, the building later became home to the Police Athletic League, which continues to maintain offices there today.

After roughly two decades behind scaffolding, the landmark remains in need of repair and restoration. Read more about its long history of public service and why we’re calling for the building’s future to be secure: https://villagepreservation.org/2026/09/15/34-1-2-east-12th-street-a-long-history-of-public-service/

"You are entitled to your own opinions. But not your own facts." That's the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan — himse...
09/14/2026

"You are entitled to your own opinions. But not your own facts." That's the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan — himself a strong advocate for historic preservation — and it's a standard worth holding journalism to.

A recent Curbed piece on Village Preservation didn't meet it. The article attributes much of the city's affordability crisis to preservation in general, and to our organization in particular, and it does so using several claims that simply aren't accurate.

We value a free press, and we welcome real debate about the role preservation should play in a city facing an affordability crisis — reasonable people disagree on that, and we're glad to engage. But this piece went much further: it included provably false statements about our record, a quote taken out of its original context, and it left out facts about our affordable housing work that were shared with the magazine directly. We raised each of these issues with the editors before and after publication. They chose not to correct any of them.

We wanted you to hear the full story, not just theirs. Read our open letter to the editors of Curbed and its parent, New York Magazine, at https://media.villagepreservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/14143240/Curbed-NY-Mag-9.13.26.pdf.

If you'd like to share your own thoughts with the editors, you can do so at [email protected].

You can also read more about our work on the relationship between Preservation and Affordability at https://villagepreservation.org/campaign/affordability-and-preservation/, which includes studies by academics, planners, and economists that dispute the premise that building lots of unaffordable housing makes a city more affordable.

in 1814 “The Star-Spangled Banner” was written, eventually becoming the national anthem in 1931. As it was inspired by...
09/14/2026

in 1814 “The Star-Spangled Banner” was written, eventually becoming the national anthem in 1931. As it was inspired by and written to honor a flag, we’re looking at the remarkable history of flags in and around Greenwich Village, from the national anthem and Jimi Hendrix’s revolutionary interpretation, to the Rainbow Flag and the NAACP’s powerful “A Man Was Lynched Yesterday” flag.
These very different symbols share something important: each has been used to express ideas about freedom, identity, equality, protest, and what America can, and should, be.

As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States with our theme of the Revolutionary Village, these stories remind us that the American Revolution did not end in 1776. The ongoing struggle to define and expand the meaning of American freedom has continued for 250 years, and Greenwich Village has often been at the center of it: https://villagepreservation.org/2026/09/14/the-star-spangled-banner-and-its-heirs-the-flags-of-the-revolutionary-village/

The City has released its draft “Fair Housing Growth Strategy” report, a blueprint for new housing development in NYC th...
09/12/2026

The City has released its draft “Fair Housing Growth Strategy” report, a blueprint for new housing development in NYC through 2030. It proposes NYC increase its number of housing units by 700,000, or 20%, by the year 2030. That’s the equivalent of adding Philadelphia, or a sixth borough, to NYC in just over a decade, but without adding any new land.

Each neighborhood would be expected to contribute its share to this enormous rate of growth. In fact, each Community Board would need to add the equivalent of a Hudson Yards or a Long Island City to meet the goal, which would be backed up by subsequent rezonings and other measures.

In Community Board 2 (Greenwich Village, SoHo, NoHo, Hudson Square), in just the next five years, the equivalent of 200 more of the 538 ft. tall tower coming to 5-11 West 13th Street would be required. In Community Board 3 (East Village, Lower East Side), it’s the equivalent of 530 more of the 210 ft. tall tower at 52 East 4th Street/353 Bowery. And by far most of the housing would be market rate, extremely expensive, and unaffordable.

Once finalized and adopted, the plan will guide city policies and subsequent actions like rezonings and other land use approvals to meet these targets. The City is accepting comments through Saturday, September 19. We strongly urge you to write + share your concerns.

To learn more, and send messages to city officials expressing concerns about the plan, go to https://villagepreservation.org/nycs-proposed-fair-housing-growth-strategy-plan/

Our September Business of the Month, St. Marks Yoga , is something rare: a studio that believes a daily yoga practice sh...
09/11/2026

Our September Business of the Month, St. Marks Yoga , is something rare: a studio that believes a daily yoga practice should be affordable enough for everyone, not just those who can pay premium rates. Most classes cost $12. Located at 12 St. Mark's Place, the historic former German American Shooting Society building, the studio carries forward more than three decades of yoga history on this site. Read the full story of how a chance encounter over a Christmas tree led the owner Nick to launch a studio and eventually start another one at St. Mark's Place: https://villagepreservation.org/2026/09/11/business-of-the-month-st-marks-yoga-12-st-marks-place/

Address

232 E 11th Street
New York, NY
10003

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 6pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 6pm
Thursday 9:30am - 6pm
Friday 9:30am - 6pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Village Preservation - Greenwich Village Society For Historic Preservation posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share