SAVED St. Brigid's Church |
The EVCC is a founding member of the Lower East Side Preservation Initiative, a coalition of preservation organizations and individuals working to create landmark districts in appropriate places within the Lower East Side.
Key projects include...
1. St. Brigid's Church
One of New York's historic treasures, the church on Avenue B and East 8th Street was
built by Irish shipwrights in 1848. In
2001, the main church was closed because of a crack in the structure, and three
years later, the Archdiocese of New York disbanded the
congregation. In 2006, demolition began,
but the process was halted and delayed by a series of court decisions. Then, on May 21, 2008 the Archdiocese of New
York announced that it had received a $20 million donation to the St. Brigid's
Parish and School, and that the Archdiocese would restore and reopen St. Brigid's
Church.
The East Village Community Coalition was delighted to learn
this news. St. Brigid's Church is one of the oldest buildings in our neighborhood
and is of great importance to our community. We thank the Archdiocese and the
donor for this tremendous news.
2. Old P.S. 64, the former
CHARAS El Bohio
The EVCC initiated and led the effort to landmark this one-time
school building between Avenues B and C, from 9th Street to 10th Street. P.S. 64 was designated
an individual landmark by the City of New
York Landmarks Preservation Commission on June 20,
2006 and confirmed by City Council vote September 15, 2006.
Old P.S. 64: The now-decayed building that once housed community groups as CHARAS El Bohio |
In March 2008, the New York State Court of Appeals, our
State's highest court, ruled unanimously that NYC had the right to deny
approval to the building's owner for the construction of a
"dormitory" under community facility zoning without a lease of at
least ten years with a college or university. The EVCC led a group of
community and preservation organizations in submitting a Friend of the Court
Brief in support of NYC's claim.
DAG 64, Development Advisory Group 64, a coalition of Lower East Side community organizations brought together
by City Councilmember Rosie Mendez, has commissioned a study of neighborhood
needs and the feasibility of returning old P.S. 64 as a community center.
**Read our history of Old P.S. 64, CHARAS/El Bohio
**See our photo gallery of the post-landmark damage to the building
**Find out how you can help preserve the building
3. The Mezeritz Synagogue
In August of 2008, the EVCC joined a coalition of community groups that are trying to preserve this 1910 synagogue on Sixth Street. The first step is a request for landmark status.
Get the details about what has been accomplished
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