One Part of East Village Historic District Approved

By Kevin Korber of Village Confidential

Local preservationist groups scored a major victory this week as the Landmarks Preservation Committee took the first steps towards creating an East Village historic district.

According to reports issued last week, the LPC approved the application to set up an historic district along East 10th Street, between Avenue A and Avenue B. As a result, 26 buildings on that block have acquired landmark status.

The approval vote creates one of two parts of a potential East Village historic district. The issue has been a point of contention between historical preservation groups and local houses of worship, who fear that landmark status would create restrictions for possible renovations on their buildings.

The vote on this particular section of the East Village historic district comes too late for one building: a development on 315 East 10^th Street was approved by the Department of Buildings hours before the vote on the historic district could take place.

LPC Chairman Robert B. Tierney told reporters that he “believe[s] the work will not compromise the district.” Members of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation felt otherwise, issuing a statement saying, “We use this occasion to call upon the Landmarks Preservation Commission to redouble its efforts to act in a timely manner to protect the vulnerable history and character of the East Village.”

The larger segment of the East Village historic district, which would encompass parts of 1^st and 2^nd Avenue between East 10^th Street and East 2^nd Street, has yet to be voted on by the LPC.