Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation facts for kids
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| Formation | 1980 |
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| Headquarters | New York, New York, U.S. |
The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP) is a group that works to protect and celebrate the history of several neighborhoods in Lower Manhattan, New York City. These areas include Greenwich Village, the Far West Village, the Meatpacking District, the South Village, NoHo, and the East Village. In 2019, the group started using the shorter name Village Preservation.
Village Preservation helps keep historic buildings safe and watches new construction. They do this by speaking up, working with the government, and offering educational programs for both kids and adults. Their work has helped create many historic districts and protect important buildings from being torn down. They have also helped make sure new buildings fit in with the old ones.
Some of their big achievements include helping the Stonewall Inn become a national monument in 2016. This was the first U.S. national monument or city landmark based on the history of fairness and equality for all people. They also helped protect the Meatpacking District and much of the South Village. Other successes include saving places like Webster Hall and the former Bell Telephone Labs, now known as Westbeth Artist Housing. They even helped save homes of famous artists like Frank Stella and Willem de Kooning.
The society has won many awards for its work. For example, they received the "Excellence in Historic Preservation Award" from the Preservation League of New York State. Their Executive Director, Andrew Berman, was also named one of "The 100 Most Powerful People in New York Real Estate" by The New York Observer.
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How Village Preservation Started
The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation began in 1980. It was first called the Greenwich Village Trust for Historic Preservation (GVT). In 1982, Regina Kellerman, a well-known architectural historian, became its first leader. The group moved its office to the Salmagundi Club. In 1984, GVT changed its name to Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. In 2019, they started using "Village Preservation" as their public name.
During the 1980s, Village Preservation started researching the history and buildings of Greenwich Village. This included studies on the Gansevoort Meat Market and the waterfront.
In 1991, the group started its first educational program for students. By 1995, they had a 12-page workbook for children called “Discovering Greenwich Village.” This program now includes walking tours. Students learn how the buildings in Greenwich Village show its social history.
In the mid-1990s, the society began collecting oral history stories. They recorded the experiences of people who helped save Greenwich Village in the 20th century. Many of these people helped stop Robert Moses's plan for a big highway through Lower Manhattan. Famous people like Jane Jacobs shared their stories.
Since 1999, Village Preservation has been based at the Neighborhood Preservation Center. This center is the old rectory of St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery. Moving here helped the group focus more on the East Village neighborhood.
Today, the group works on several important issues. They advocate against large new developments along the Hudson River Park. They also support local independent businesses. They have even gone to court to oppose NYU's expansion plans. The group regularly speaks to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. They also keep an eye on changes planned for protected buildings.
What Village Preservation Does
The society has played a big role in getting the South Village recognized as a historic district. The first part of this district was protected in 2010, and a second part in 2013. The group continues to push for a third section to be landmarked. In the West Village, the group celebrates the area's important role in movements for fairness and equality. They have worked to get official recognition for this history. When some real estate groups say that protecting old buildings makes housing too expensive, Village Preservation always explains why this is not true.
Village Preservation helps with new development and preservation issues as they come up. They also have a full calendar of events each year. These include free lectures, walking tours, and discussions. Their main yearly fundraiser is the Village House Tour, held every May. In June, they hold the Village Awards and Annual Meeting. Here, they honor local people, businesses, and groups who have helped the community.
In 2014, the organization published a book called “Greenwich Village Stories.” It features stories and art from people like Lou Reed and Hettie Jones. Selling this book helps raise money for the society. The group also places two historic plaques each year on important cultural or historical sites. For example, they placed one at the former San Remo Café and another at the home of poet Frank O'Hara.
Village Preservation also runs a program for children in local schools. Trained teachers help students understand history through the buildings around them. Greenwich Village becomes like a living museum. They also have a program for real estate professionals. This program teaches about architecture, zoning, and planning history. The society has a large collection of old images showing the history of Greenwich Village. Their Oral History Project collects stories from people who helped preserve the area. The organization also writes a daily blog called “Off the Grid.” They also publish a newsletter twice a year about their work.
Protecting Historic Places
Even though a large part of Greenwich Village became a historic district in 1969, many buildings outside that area are not protected. Between 2003 and 2013, Village Preservation helped protect over 1,250 buildings. They also helped create "contextual rezonings" for nearly 100 blocks. This means new buildings must fit the style and size of the neighborhood.
Some of their important efforts include:
- 2019 – Three more sites important to the history of fairness and equality were made individual landmarks. These include The LGBT Community Services Center and the former home of Caffé Cino.
- 2017 – The buildings at 827-831 Broadway were made an individual landmark.
- 2016 – The Sullivan-Thompson Historic District was created.
- 2016 – They secured protections against future "air rights" transfers from the Hudson River Park. This could have led to much more development in western Greenwich Village.
- 2015 – The Stonewall Inn was made an individual landmark. It was the first landmark based on the history of fairness and equality.
- 2012 – The East Village/Lower East Side and East 10th Street Historic District were created. These were the first new historic districts in the East Village since 1969.
- 2011 – The Westbeth Building was declared an official City landmark.
- 2009 – The East Village rezoning was approved by the NYC Council.
- 2009 – Silver Towers were made an [individual landmark].
- 2009 – Webster Hall was made an [individual landmark].
- 1999, 2002, 2009 – The NoHo Historic District (Main, East, and Extension) was created.
- 2006 – The Weehawken Street Historic District was created.
- 2004 – The Hamilton-Holly House at 4 St. Marks Place and 127-131 MacDougal Street were made [individual landmarks].
- 2003 – The Gansevoort Market Historic District was created.
- 2002 – Gansevoort Market was named one of [Seven to Save] by the Preservation League of New York State.
- 1999 – The Stonewall Inn was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Research and Resources for Learning
- In 2017, Village Preservation created a Civil Rights and Social Justice map. This map shows important places related to different social justice movements over the years.
- Village Preservation also launched the East Village Building Blocks interactive map. This map, based on 10 years of research, shows building information for every building in the East Village.
- In 2019, the society released an interactive map for the 50th anniversary of the Greenwich Village Historic District. This map shows old pictures of buildings next to what they look like today.
- Also in 2019, Village Preservation worked with Google Arts & Culture. They created virtual reality walking tours about Latinx History, Social Justice, and Trailblazing Women.
Historic Districts in the Area
Village Preservation helps protect many historic districts. Here are some of them, with the year they were created:
- Charlton-King-Vandam Historic District (1966)
- MacDougal-Sullivan Gardens Historic District (1967)
- Greenwich Village Historic District (1969) and Extension I (2006) (includes Stonewall National Register District) and Extension II (2010)
- St. Mark's Historic District (1969) and extension (1984)
- NoHo Historic District (1999) and extension (2008)
- NoHo East Historic District (2003)
- Gansevoort Market Historic District (2003)
- Weehawken Street Historic District (2006)
- Noho Historic District Extension I (2008)
- East 10th Street Historic District (2010)
- Soho Historic District Extension (2010)
- East Village/Lower East Side Historic District (2012)
- South Village Historic District (2013)
- Sullivan-Thompson Historic District (2016)
