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
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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 teach

es 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.

Today we're exploring and celebrating one of the most plentiful, and perhaps the most archetypical, of building types in...
08/13/2024

Today we're exploring and celebrating one of the most plentiful, and perhaps the most archetypical, of building types in our neighborhoods: the row house. You can use the new tag feature in our Historic Image Archive to explore hundreds of images of row houses throughout the years -- take a look:

If we had to pick just one type of building to represent our neighborhoods, the top contender would almost undoubtedly be the row house. A ubiquitous feature of 19th-century urban streetscapes…

Unbeknownst to most New Yorkers, a literary landmark lies beneath Greenwich Village’s stretch of Broadway. Pfaff’s Cella...
08/13/2024

Unbeknownst to most New Yorkers, a literary landmark lies beneath Greenwich Village’s stretch of Broadway. Pfaff’s Cellar Saloon was America’s first bohemian hotspot and home to one of the country’s first gay men’s clubs, the “Fred Gray Association.” Walt Whitman was a loyal Pfaffian who met many young men in this space, and was here inspired to write several of his most widely-recognized poems. Hear more from internationally recognized Whitman scholar Karen Karbiene in the recording of our recent program:

Unbeknownst to most New Yorkers, a literary landmark lies beneath Greenwich Village’s stretch of Broadway: Pfaff’s Cellar Saloon, located below the twin tene...

On this day in 1966, that classic ode to summer, “Summer in the City” by the Lovin’ Spoonful, tops the charts. We look b...
08/13/2024

On this day in 1966, that classic ode to summer, “Summer in the City” by the Lovin’ Spoonful, tops the charts. We look back at the song’s very Greenwich Village roots:

On August 13, 1966, the classic ode to the trials and joys of summer days and summer nights, Summer in the City by the Lovin' Spoonful, reached number one on the American Pop Singles Charts.

In this recent program organized by the Renee & Chaim Gross Foundation in collaboration with Village Preservation, panel...
08/12/2024

In this recent program organized by the Renee & Chaim Gross Foundation in collaboration with Village Preservation, panelists, composed of neighborhood preservationists and residents, discussed why the Village remains such a renowned and beloved space for the public, and considered ways to preserve this neighborhood’s memory in an ever-changing New York City. Watch:

Organized by the Renee & Chaim Gross Foundation in collaboration with Village Preservation, this program will discuss Greenwich Village as a space of collect...

Over 80,000 women served as WAVES during WWII. Many were stationed here in New York City and would visit the Village in ...
08/12/2024

Over 80,000 women served as WAVES during WWII. Many were stationed here in New York City and would visit the Village in their time off. Read more about this history and see one very personal story from images recently donated to our Historic Image Archive:

The Agnes Balcer Collection of our 4,700 piece (and growing!) historic image archive is one of our smallest collections, but the photos it contains have an outsize story to tell relating to the family…

Glamour, power, and incredible business acumen converge in " WHEN WOMEN RAN FIFTH AVENUE." Watch our conversation with j...
08/12/2024

Glamour, power, and incredible business acumen converge in " WHEN WOMEN RAN FIFTH AVENUE." Watch our conversation with journalist and author Julie Satow as she discusses the three extraordinary women who ran high-end department stores on New York's most fashionable avenue, including Bendel's; which was founded in our neighborhood! Part of our series marking 200 years of Fifth Avenue:

Julie Satow discusses her new book WHEN WOMEN RAN FIFTH AVENUE: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion as we continue our year-long salute to Fift...

On this day in 1857, NH Wolfe Co. fails, leading to the Panic of 1857, which helped precipitate the Civil War. Learn how...
08/11/2024

On this day in 1857, NH Wolfe Co. fails, leading to the Panic of 1857, which helped precipitate the Civil War. Learn how one house that still stands was at the center of it all, and how we are trying to save it:

Today, global economic crises are all too familiar and common. A bad day on Wall Street, or a troubling decision by China or the European Union, can send markets tumbling around the world…

On this day in 1973, Hip Hop is born in a recreation room party at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx. On its long journe...
08/11/2024

On this day in 1973, Hip Hop is born in a recreation room party at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx. On its long journey to global phenomenon, Hip Hop went through a critical metamorphosis in our neighborhoods in the late 1970s and early 1980s that helped forge it into the multi-faceted art form we now know; explore the sites and people responsible in our StoryMap:

In Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo

On this day in 1970, longtime holdout McSorley's Old Ale House finally admits women. Learn about how it came about and t...
08/10/2024

On this day in 1970, longtime holdout McSorley's Old Ale House finally admits women. Learn about how it came about and the women of Greenwich Village and the East Village who made it possible:

This is an updated re-posting of a piece written by former GVSHP staffer Dana Schultz. Walk into McSorley’s Old Ale House today and you will see an equal mix of the genders enjoying a beer.

We’re happy to report this illegal signage we had pursued for violating both zoning and landmarking rules has been remov...
08/10/2024

We’re happy to report this illegal signage we had pursued for violating both zoning and landmarking rules has been removed:

Village Preservation also filed complaints (as did many of you!) regarding illegal, “Coney Island”–style illuminated signage installed at Pizza Funhouse, 402 Sixth Avenue at 8th Street.

Cargo, commuters, millionaires, and immigrants once jostled on the Hudson River waterfront as the great ocean liners wer...
08/09/2024

Cargo, commuters, millionaires, and immigrants once jostled on the Hudson River waterfront as the great ocean liners were docked at the piers. Learn more about this fascinating period in the city's history by watching the recording of our recent program "Gateway to the World: The Hudson River and the Golden Age of Ocean Liners”:

Today it’s reborn as a beautiful site for recreation after decades of decay, but over a hundred years ago the Hudson River waterfront was the place where New...

Big news regarding the controversial planned tower at 14 Fifth Avenue — get the latest and how you can help:
08/09/2024

Big news regarding the controversial planned tower at 14 Fifth Avenue — get the latest and how you can help:

In June, Village Preservation angrily protested to the city that work on construction of a planned 213-ft.-tall tower at 14 Fifth Avenue we opposed had resumed, even though a stop-work order had been…

Once a popular and necessary feature of New York City's dense residential neighborhoods, public bath houses fell into di...
08/09/2024

Once a popular and necessary feature of New York City's dense residential neighborhoods, public bath houses fell into disuse following World War II. Today, ten of these buildings remain throughout Manhattan, and have been adaptively reused in a variety of creative ways. Read more about the rich history of these structures, and the tenuous future of the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center, the only such remaining building in Greenwich Village:

The public bath house was a fixture of late 19th and early 20th century New York City life. These grand municipal buildings served several important purposes for New Yorkers…

On this day in 1848, Congress granted NYC the right to the land where the Gansevoort Farmers’ Market and West Washington...
08/08/2024

On this day in 1848, Congress granted NYC the right to the land where the Gansevoort Farmers’ Market and West Washington Market would be built in today’s Meatpacking District. Those markets would develop a strong symbiotic relationship with the Hudson River waterfront, eventually supplying, rather than being supplanted by, the great Transatlantic Ocean liners of the day which eventually moved in next door. Learn how these incredible markets were born from reclaimed land before they became home to today’s high fashion and fine dining establishments:

On August 8, 1848, an Act of Congress played a significant role in shaping the landscape of New York City’s commerce and infrastructure: it granted part of the land to help establishment of the…

30 years ago today, drag queens took the stage at Boy Bar (15 St. Marks Place) to partake in a show titled “It's a Mod M...
08/07/2024

30 years ago today, drag queens took the stage at Boy Bar (15 St. Marks Place) to partake in a show titled “It's a Mod Mod World”. Through the Jillian Jonas collection in our historic image archive, we can see the rarely told histories of this iconic space and its contemporary, The Pyramid Club (101 Avenue A). Read more here:

On August 7, 1994, drag queens took the stage at Boy Bar (15 St. Marks Place) to partake in a show titled “It's a Mod Mod World”. Through the Jillian Jonas collection in our historic image archive…

A disheartening trend we are combatting:
08/07/2024

A disheartening trend we are combatting:

On the Lower East Side, plaques celebrating famous Americans were stolen in broad daylight.

Join us this week for two exciting zoom webinars! This evening we mark the centennial of James Baldwin’s birth with a pr...
08/06/2024

Join us this week for two exciting zoom webinars!

This evening we mark the centennial of James Baldwin’s birth with a presentation by Baldwin scholar Bill Mullen as he discusses the writer and activist’s time in Greenwich Village.

Tomorrow evening, Julie Satow discusses her new book When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion and as we continue our year-long salute to Fifth Avenue on its 200th anniversary.

Visit the events page on our website to register.

The Tony Dapolito Recreation Center has been a community mainstay for over a century. Like many famous Greenwich Village...
08/06/2024

The Tony Dapolito Recreation Center has been a community mainstay for over a century. Like many famous Greenwich Village locations, it holds a special place in LGBTQ+ history, which if the city and others have their way will be destroyed:

The Tony Dapolito Recreation Center has a long history of serving the surrounding community, visitors from other parts of New York City, and in some cases, the world. The rec center was constructed in…

Happy birthday, Andy Warhol, born this day in 1928. We take a look at some of the places in our neighborhood associated ...
08/06/2024

Happy birthday, Andy Warhol, born this day in 1928. We take a look at some of the places in our neighborhood associated with the pop art superstar:

Twentieth century pop art icon Andy Warhol was born on August 6th, 1928 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. But his life as an artist and visual pioneer was very much about New York…

On August 6, 1988, a tense standoff between protesters and police in Tompkins Square Park turned into an all-night riot....
08/05/2024

On August 6, 1988, a tense standoff between protesters and police in Tompkins Square Park turned into an all-night riot. The result of a newly imposed park curfew, the riot brought the issues of gentrification and homelessness to a breaking point in the East Village. We look back:

Every neighborhood has a place where people go to express their discontent. For the East Village, that place is undoubtedly Tompkins Square Park. Ever since its founding in 1834, the park has hosted…

What was it like when Greenwich Village was the center of the folk music world? Get a firsthand account by checking out ...
08/02/2024

What was it like when Greenwich Village was the center of the folk music world? Get a firsthand account by checking out the recording of our program with Terri Thal as she discusses her new book "My Greenwich Village: Dave, Bob and Me." From managing Bob Dylan and Dave Van Ronk to working with the Roches and Holy Modal Rounders, get a glimpse into this fascinating time in music history: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xjx7sC2-BGg

Today, we do a third installment of answers to questions about the relation (or lack thereof) between the citiwide upzon...
08/02/2024

Today, we do a third installment of answers to questions about the relation (or lack thereof) between the citiwide upzoning "City of Yes for Housing Opportunity" and the current affordability crisis. Learn why “City of Yes” is really government-speak for “City of No political will to really do anything about affordability,” and why the most likely effect of the plan is to make very expensive housing a bit cheaper for the very wealthy, and not much for anyone else:

Many of the questions we keep encountering about the ambitious city-wide upzoning proposal called City of Yes for Housing Opportunity stem from a basic misunderstanding. Most people take “City of Yes”…

Happy 100th birthday to James Baldwin, one of our favorite and most consequential Villagers! The great writer and activi...
08/02/2024

Happy 100th birthday to James Baldwin, one of our favorite and most consequential Villagers! The great writer and activist embodied so much about what we love about our neighborhoods, pushing boundaries and transforming thought through creativity and innovation.

Join us for our program next Tuesday celebrating Baldwin’s centennial, look back on our unveiling of a plaque on his former home with his family and compatriots, revisit our public interactive “Village Voices” art installation which highlighted Baldwin, and so much more: https://www.villagepreservation.org/?s=James+Baldwin+

Three of Harlem’s most historic and impactful churches — Mother A.M.E. Zion Church, the Abyssinian Baptist Church, and S...
08/01/2024

Three of Harlem’s most historic and impactful churches — Mother A.M.E. Zion Church, the Abyssinian Baptist Church, and St. James Presbyterian Church — rose in the 1920s, but they can all trace their origins to 19th-century Greenwich Village and Little Africa during the abolition movement:

The churches of Harlem have long served as essential institutions in the neighborhood, shaping not only the spiritual lives of residents, but also the bonds that strengthen community.

On this day in 1981, MTV launches, changing the face of popular music. We mark the occasion by taking a trip back to the...
08/01/2024

On this day in 1981, MTV launches, changing the face of popular music. We mark the occasion by taking a trip back to the golden age of MTV and music videos — particularly those which were filmed on the streets of our neighborhoods. Check them out:

We here at GVSHP spend a great deal of time pouring over archival records and buildings department files to document the history of our neighborhoods — when buildings went up, when they came down…

A critical meeting on this day in 1969 led to the formation of the Gay Liberation Front, following the Stonewall uprisin...
07/31/2024

A critical meeting on this day in 1969 led to the formation of the Gay Liberation Front, following the Stonewall uprising several weeks prior. This organization was radically different from its predecessors, and helped pave the way for the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. Read about its birth and impact today:

In June 1969, a police raid on the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village was met with a resistance that launched the modern Gay Liberation Movement. Following decades of mostly discreet and targeted gay…

If you were to walk down East 4th Street in the late 1970s, you might come across an ethereal, white-faced character in ...
07/30/2024

If you were to walk down East 4th Street in the late 1970s, you might come across an ethereal, white-faced character in a flamboyant costume. Learn more about Klaus Nomi, the legendary countertenor who made his home in the East Village:

If you were to walk down East 4th Street in the late 1970s, you might come across an ethereal, white-faced character in a flamboyant costume, a spectacle among spectacles. Klaus Nomi (January 24…

Summer is in full swing, providing the perfect opportunity to venture out in search of frosty treats in our neighborhood...
07/29/2024

Summer is in full swing, providing the perfect opportunity to venture out in search of frosty treats in our neighborhoods. Today we explore a variety of delightfully delicious ice cream spots in Greenwich Village and the East Village — check them out!:

When the sweltering summer heat calls for a sweet and refreshing treat, nothing beats a scoop (or two) of ice cream. Our neighborhoods are a haven for ice cream lovers, with each neighborhood offering…

On this day in 1840, Dr. Simon Baruch is born. Baruch spearheaded the “bathhouse” movement in NYC, parish resulted in th...
07/29/2024

On this day in 1840, Dr. Simon Baruch is born. Baruch spearheaded the “bathhouse” movement in NYC, parish resulted in the creation of several public bathhouses to provide bathing and cleaning facilities for residents of immigrant-heavy neighborhoods like ours who otherwise did not have access to them. More on Baruch and his legacy:

The buildings we pass in our neighborhoods can offer windows into some rather specific aspects of New York history, and the interesting and sometimes complicated figures involved in the city’s…

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34th Annual Village Awards
34th Annual Village Awards

Each year, Village Preservation honors invaluable local leaders, institutions, business, places, and organizations at our Annual Meeting and Village Awards. This fun and free public event highlights and celebrates those that make our neighborhoods some of the most interesting and exceptional in the city. The night also includes a review of Village Preservation’s activities and accomplishments over the last year. The 34th Annual Village Awards and 44th Annual Members Meeting will take place on: Wednesday, June 12, 2024, 6 PM The Cooper Union’s Great Hall 7 East 7th Street Our emcee for the awards ceremony will be legendary musician, writer, producer, and music historian Lenny Kaye. RSVP for the big event today! https://greenwichvillagesocietyforhistoric.my.site.com/s/event-detail?eventId=a1wQP0000012O8v

On Sunday, May 5th, enjoy Village Preservation's Spring House Tour Benefit, a rare opportunity to explore the interiors of six homes and their secret gardens in full bloom. The houses are graced with exquisite architectural details, meticulous restorations, unparalleled art collections, and many rich layers of history. The self-guided walking tour is a yearly favorite and supports Village Preservation's mission of education and advocacy for the distinctive character and irreplaceable architecture of Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo. Tickets go on sale next week, but be sure to put Sunday, May 5th on your calendar!

Village Preservation Exec. Dir. Andrew Berman on iheartradio podcast “Here’s the Thing” with Alec Baldwin re NYU’s perpetual takeover of the neighborhood:

Our Executive Director Andrew Berman recently paid a return visit to Alec Baldwin’s podcast Here's The Thing to catch up on the work we do and what’s changed since our last chat in 2015. It’s a wide-ranging conversation covering everything from affordable housing to New York losing its edge. Check out the snippet below, and listen to the full podcast at https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-heres-the-thing-with-alec-23562128/episode/andrew-berman-summer-staff-picks-121529329/.

Celebrate the summer weather with Village Preservation's lineup of June Programs and mark your calendars for our 2023 Annual Meeting and Village Awards on June 13th! Registration and more info here: https://www.villagepreservation.org/events/#/2023/06/

Step into spring with our May events! Join us for an exciting lineup of #outdoor and #virtual events. Enjoy the beautiful spring weather with our Charles Mingus plaque dedication with live music. Prefer to stay inside? Register for one of our #zoomwebinars, including Candidate Forums for City Council District 1 and 2, or the final session for #BlackHistoryInTheVillage. Don't miss out! https://www.villagepreservation.org/events/#/2023/05/

It's the last day to submit a nomination for the Village Awards. Fill out a brief nomination form to honor your favorite small business, place, person, or organization in Greenwich Village, East Village, and NoHo! https://airtable.com/shrx7XNjfiqNzcYjU

This Friday, March 31st is the last day to submit nominations for the 33rd Annual Village Award! We encourage you to click the link and fill out a simple form to nominate your favorites for a 2023 Village Award: https://airtable.com/shrx7XNjfiqNzcYjU

Join us for exciting free programs in February celebrating #BlackHistoryMonth, the 60s Coffee House scene, great artistic institutions, and more! Get more details and register now: https://www.villagepreservation.org/events/#/2023/02/

Join us this Sunday, September 18th for the opening of Village Voices II! ⁠ We’re kicking off with two special events:⁠ ⁠ 🔸Opening Benefit Day~1-5:30 PM⁠ ⁠ Come to the opening for performances and exclusive access to artists' studios and secret places throughout the day.⁠ ⁠ 🔸Village Benefit Ball~6-8 PM⁠ ⁠ Come as your favorite Village Luminary as we celebrate Village Preservation at the newly restored @Jefferson_Market_Library. ⁠ ⁠ Village Voices was created to benefit Village Preservation and as a tribute to the community as we celebrate and honor our neighborhoods. ⁠ ⁠ Be a Village Voices supporter and purchase tickets now — bit.ly/villagevoices22 .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ #nyculture #artasactivism #thingstodoinny #nycpopup #greenwichvillage #madeinnewyork #eastvillage #eastvillagenyc #noho #nohoartsdistrict #newyorkart #nyhistory #explorenyc #thisplacematters #artinthecity #greenwichvillagenyc #jeffersonmarketlibrary

This cartoon truly captures the essence of the SoHo/NoHo/Chinatown rezoning, and breathes new life into the age-old maxim: never pick a fight with someone who buys artist paint brushes by the dozen — in this case a resident who shares his neighbors’ concerns about the likely effects of de Blasio’s plan. It indicts the rezoning for using false promises of affordable housing to rationalize an enormous giveaway to developers and political donors granted at the expense of the current low-and moderate-income residents. Learn what you can do to help stop the Wolf: https://www.villagepreservation.org/2021/08/05/meet-the-wolf-of-soho-noho-chinatown/

The Village Awards nominations deadline is near, so nominate your favorite neighborhood business, institution, community group, restoration/renovation, or hero at www.villagepreservation.org/awards!

Giving Tuesday - Celebrate 40 Years of Preservation
Giving Tuesday - Celebrate 40 Years of Preservation

Spring House Tour Benefit
Spring House Tour Benefit

Village Feast Recipes
Village Feast Recipes

38th Annual Meeting and 28th Annual Village Awards
38th Annual Meeting and 28th Annual Village Awards

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Our Story

Village Preservation (The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation) was founded in 1980 to preserve the architectural heritage and cultural history of Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo. Village Preservation is 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 Greenwich 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 Village Preservation monitors 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 Village Preservation also monitors 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. GVSHP also reports and advocates 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.

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