This one’s a bit to the west of our coverage area, but still of interest to TLD readers. Today the Preservation League of New York State named the South Village to its “Seven to Save” list of most threatened historic resources.
This morning’s news conference was held in front of 178 Bleecker, the empty site where an 1861 row house once stood. The announcement was made by league president Jay DiLorenzo. Andrew Berman, head of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, was at his side. Berman’s organization applied for the designation, as part of its campaign to persuade the city to landmark the 35-block area (a portion of the neighborhood was dedicated two years ago).
A news release states:
This… area boasts sites associated with the immigrant experience, bohemian and artistic achievements (especially in music) and counter-cultural movements. As a neighborhood comprised predominantly of tenement housing, the South Village is one of the few remaining intact Manhattan neighborhoods that reflect the immigrant experience… The inclusion of the South Village on the Seven to Save list provides the opportunity for the League to work with local advocates to protect the neighborhood. “With this program, we provide targeted support to seven of New York’s most important and endangered historic resources,” said Erin Tobin, the Preservation League’s eastern regional director for technical and grant programs. “Whether sites are threatened by insensitive, ineffective or insufficient public policies, general neglect, and, in some cases, outright demolition, we have a proven record of working with community advocates to save a number of significant properties.”
Click here for more info about today’s announcement.
