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 Lower East Side. LESPI is particularly interested in protecting the Lower East Side’s historic streetscapes. 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 is underway, 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 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.

What is LESPI doing to help?

LESPI is currently surveying the East Village, block by block, to identify streets 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 the entire Lower East Side.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has listed the Lower East Side in its 2008 list of 11 Most Endangered 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 &mash;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.”

The building trend shows no sign of abating

If you’re interested in helping LESPI please contact us