What’s LESPI?

Lower East Side Preservation Initiative — we’re local residents and preservationists who want to preserve what’s left of the historic architecture and streetscapes of Manhattan’s East Village / Lower East Side. LESPI is particularly interested in protecting the EV/LES’s historic streetscapes. We're a grass roots organization, formed in 2007. LESPI’s first order of business is to address preservation of the East Village, where development is rampant.

Why does this need to happen?

It needs to happen because the Lower East Side’s historic streetscapes and buildings serve as markers that tell us of an architectural and cultural history that has been central in the development of the city as well as the country. Every day now more of the area’s historic tenement, institutional, and community buildings are being destroyed in waves of development that seems out of control.

A rezoning of the East Village was recently enacted, will this help preserve its architecture?

This will help. But a lot of the historic buildings are being torn down and replaced with buildings of the same height, or their ornate facades are being removed to create modern structures with no relationship to the other buildings on the street. This is likely to continue without some kind of protection for these structures.

What’s the best way to protect the East Village’s / Lower East Side’s historic streetscapes?

Designation as a New York City Historic District by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) is the best way to protect them. This is not necessary for most of the area’s streets, however there are several left that are relatively intact from when they were built in the late 19th century, and these and other historically, architecturally and culturally important streetscapes and buildings deserve protection.

The LPC has been moving in this direction. On January 17, 2012 the LPC voted unanimously to landmark the East 10th Street Historic District, a milestone in the preservation of the East Village / LES! This is the first NYC historic district designated in large part because of its ties to immigrant and tenement history and architecture.

We are still waiting for the LPC to schedule a public hearing for and landmark the Proposed East Village / Lower East Side Historic District. We anticipate that LPC will hold a public hearing on this district in the spring of 2012. Landmarking of the Proposed East Village / Lower East Side Historic District, a much larger and more diverse district than the East 10th Street Historic District, will be another immensely significant step toward the preservation of the community's historic resources. It's important to contact the LPC to express your support (see Advocacy for sample letter).

What is LESPI doing to help?

Currently LESPI is spreading the word about expediting the landmarking of the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC's) Proposed East Village / LES Historic District. We've met several times with the LPC staff, worked with other neighborhood and preservation groups, and given testimony at Community Board 3 public hearings in support. We've also been tabling on Avenue A in front of Tompkins Square Park to discuss the issue with residents and petition for support. We currently have gathered over 1,000 petition signatures from this effort.

Community Board 3 voted on July 26, 2011 to support landmarking (see maps above). Join the movement to protect our heritage. SIGN LESPI'S ONLINE PETITION URGING THE LPC TO ACCELERATE THE LANDMARKING OF THE EAST VILLAGE / LOWER EAST SIDE DISTRICT, TO ENSURE THAT ITS BUILDINGS GET THE PROTECTION FROM DEMOLITION OR DEFACEMENT THEY DESERVE! SIGN THE PETITION HERE.

At the same time, LESPI is continuing our block by block survey and mapping of the East Village. The purpose is to identify streets - in addition to the LPC's two proposed historic districts - that retain a coherent sense of their historic architecture. Typically these are tenement blocks where most of the buildings have remained intact. Later we’ll survey and map the entire Lower East Side.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has listed the Lower East Side in its 2008 list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places:

“Few places in America can boast such a rich tapestry of history, culture and architecture as New York’s Lower East Side. However, this legendary neighborhood which has served as the first home for waves of immigrants since the 18th century — is now undergoing rapid development. New hotels and condominium towers are being erected across the area, looming large over the original tenement streetscape. As this building trend shows no sign of abating, it threatens to erode the fabric of the community and wipe away the collective memory of generations of immigrant families.”

What's LESPI's organizational structure?

LESPI is a not-for-profit corporation registered in New York State. We are a "grass roots" volunteer organization.

LESPI's Board of Directors is:
Richard Moses, President
Carolyn Ratcliffe, Vice President and Secretary
Britton Baine, Treasurer
Marie Beirne
Ricky Leung
Jean Standish
Philip Van Aver.

LESPI's Board of Advisors is:
Linda Jones
Katy McNabb
Joyce Mendelsohn
Bruce Monroe
Robert Slaughter
Osvaldo Valdes.

LESPI has three working committees:
Outreach and Events, Carolyn Ratcliffe, Chair
Survey / Mapping, Britton Baine, Chair
Oral History, Marie Beirne, Chair.

LESPI's umbrella organization is City Lore.

What coverage has LESPI / East Village preservation gotten? Take a look:

East 10th Landmarked, But Not Before Controversial Renovation is Approved - The Local East Village NYTimes.com, January 17, 2012

Landmarking Push Doesn't Bother Shaoul - The Local East Village NYTimes.com, December 15, 2011

City Council Votes to Strip 135 Bowery of Landmark Designation - Our Town Downtown, September 28, 2011

In Favor of a Historic District: It Preserves Local Character - The Local East Village NYTimes.com, August 10, 2011: An Opinion piece written by LESPI Steering Committee members Britton Baine and Richard Moses

C.B. 3 approves E.V. plan at tense meeting - Downtown Express, August 3, 2011

A First Look at Karl Fischer’s Design for 427 East 12th Street - The Local East Village NYTimes.com, August 1, 2011

Houses of worship opposed to historic district may sue - The Villager, July 14 - 20, 2011

Pyramid and cinema in proposed district; Church says, Nyet - The Villager, June 23-29

East Village Historic Area Could Include Birthplace of Drag - DNAinfo.com, May 27, 2011

Revised Plan Broadens Historic District - The Local East Village NYTimes.com, May 25, 2011

Residents Laud Historic District Plan - The Local East Village NYTimes.com, May 12, 2011

Developer Meets on Fate of 35 Cooper - The Local East Village NYTimes.com, April 12, 2011

Dozens Gather at Vigil for 35 Cooper - The Local East Village NYTimes.com, February 22, 2011

The Protest At The Asian Pub - New York Press, January 28, 2011

Church says nyet, community says da on landmarking - The Villager, July 29 - August 4, 2010

Bowery charm fades, overcome by high-end consumers - Washington Square News, February 3, 2011