SUN NOV 14 LESPI Rally to Restore East River Park’s Historic Track House and Tennis Center! 2 PM

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Restore, Don’t Demolish! The Lower East Side Preservation Initiative (LESPI) acknowledges the urgent need for the City to provide timely floodproofing for the park, but sees no reason that these historic buildings cannot be saved, restored and re-used! Meet at the Brian Watkins Tennis Center north entrance.

Proposed restoration by Davies Toews Architecture

MAS Jane’s Walk NYC: Yiddish Theater Culture

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Join Municipal Arts Society and the Lower East Side Preservation Initiative (LESPI) for a livestream virtual tour exploring the creativity and culture of early Yiddish Theater and its contribution to NYC culture. Led by licensed tour guide Barry Feldman and EVCC Executive Director Laura Sewell.

Watch the replay of this wonderful program presented by the Lower East Side Preservation Initiative (LESPI).

WED MAR 10 311 Boot Camp 6:30 PM

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Learn how to access open data to see the status of the addresses that interest you. Takeaways include how to research 311 complaints, Department of Buildings violations and hearings. Block associations and individuals are welcome! Please register to receive a link to join us.

Creating Collective Power: a phototalk with The 4th Street Photo Gallery

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Alex Harsley’s reportage style of photography started in 1958 as the first Black photographer for the New York City District Attorney. Mr. Harsley has curated The 4th Street Photo Gallery and The Minority Photographers non-profit since the early 1970s. Join us for a special photography talk about this neighborhood treasure and Alex Harsley’s own work.

Watch the replay of this wonderful program presented on FEB 10, 2021 and co-sponsored by Village Preservation.

Brigid: Goddess and Saint: a little Irish Women’s history with Susan McKeown

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Join Grammy award-winning vocalist, songwriter and producer Susan McKeown, to hear the tales behind the Irish wave of immigration, how it was different from other immigrant groups, and how the co-mingling of these groups on the Lower East Side influenced all of their cultures.

Watch the replay of this wonderful program presented on FEB 2, 2021 and co-sponsored by the Lower East Side Preservation Initiative (LESPI).

East Village: Lens on the Lower East Side Book Talk

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Join author Marilyn Appelberg and contributing photographers for a lively talk on the Lower East Side Preservation Initiative’s East Village: Lens on the Lower East Side. Watch the replay of this wonderful program presented on DEC 29, 2020 and co-sponsored by LESPI.

Jane’s Walk From Home

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Join EVCC on our Jane’s Walk From Home! Saving History: Community Advocacy in the East Village

Touring the streets surrounding Tompkins Square Park through historic photos from Urban Archives, we look at moments in time where the actions of neighbors, activists and local organizations helped change the course of history. Learn how constant advocacy through zoning, historic districts and landmarking efforts helps ensure the survival of small businesses, spaces of community, and architectural identity in the East Village.

Please Comment On LPC Rules Changes, Update On Keep The Cap

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Please comment on LPC Rules Changes!

There is still time to comment on LPC rules changes.
Public notice and the opportunity to comment are essential to good government.
Sign on to GVSHP’s letter today! 
Neighbors, elected officials, Community Boards and preservationists turned out in force to voice concerns about the proposed set of changes to Landmarks Preservation Commission rules.

With no public notice of applications or decisions made, and no opportunity to review or challenge applications, these will be presented as facts to LPC Staff, who are pressed to operate beyond capacity by the sheer volume of applications in today’s fast-paced market. Much to neighbors’ dismay, distressed historic family homes are being bought up and renovated for quick profit.

Rear yard and rooftop additions are of particular concern. Our shared courtyards were designed to bring light and air into our apartments. The trend toward converting this essential space into rooftop decks and rear balconies, to be used by a few, negatively impacts everyone else’s quality of life. Preservation is not just about how buildings look from the street: it’s about how buildings function, and what they were designed to do. Decisions that affect the public should include public input!

Read the Historic District Council’s comprehensive comments and testimony here. 

Read CB 3 Executive Committee’s resolution here.
Hear continued discussion at CB 3 Landmarks Committee meeting
Tuesday April 10 6:30p 

 

New York State Budget Keeps the Height Cap

For the second time in two years, the State legislature sought to lift a half-century old limit on the size of residential buildings.

STATE SENATOR BRAD HOYLMAN  issued a statement on the dangerous proposal to ELIMINATE HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS ON RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN NEW YORK CITY:

“I am outraged that Senate Republicans proposed needlessly eliminating height restrictions by repealing the maximum Floor Area Ratio for residential buildings in New York City . . . This repeal would be one of the most dramatic changes in zoning law in the past 50 years, and it is unconscionable to try and push it through with no debate. I opposed this last year and will continue to fight tooth and nail to prevent this irresponsible proposal from becoming a reality.”

The NYS budget that passed last week will keep our height restrictions in place for now, but these ideas have a tendency to resurface when an opportunity appears. We will remain vigilant.