Lower East Side Preservation Initiative

May is Lower East Side History Month — join us for one or more free LESPI events to celebrate all things LES! For more information see: prod.cdn.everyaction.com/emails/van/EA/….

This symposium will address the economic, political, and cultural challenges and opportunities involved in making transformative change in our nation’s largest city. This event is free and open to the public! RSVP via the ticketing form at henrystreet.org/symposium is required.

Here are some shots from yesterday’s NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission Public Meeting on landmarking the Church of St. Mary on Grand St. We’re thrilled that the church will now be protected for generations to come! You can read more in AMNY: share.google/2omGEulSRjKh9Q…

Great news! Earlier today the NYC Landmarks Commission designated the Church of St. Mary on Grand Street an Individual Landmark. LESPI researched the building's history to submit to LPC, and worked with our allies to build public support. Read more at: thelodownny.com/leslog/2026/04…

This coming Tuesday at 11:30am, anti-displacement groups across the city will join forces to support the home attendants sit-in in front of City Hall and call on Mayor Mamdani to side with workers and communities, we hope you can join

If you missed LESPI's Winter 2026 Newsletter (don't feel too bad it still feels like winter), you can check it out at prod.cdn.everyaction.com/.../IcO2rcrfAZ….... To make sure you always get timely LES preservation news, sign up for our email list at secure.everyaction.com/d-H09pbm7k252g….

Check out AMNY's rundown on the Landmarks Preservation Commission's important public hearings yesterday on the proposed landmark designation of the Church of St. Mary on Grand Street, and the proposed demolition of the West Park Church on Amsterdam Avenue: amny.com/news/manhattan…

Check out LESPI's Winter 2026 Newsletter and TAKE ACTION in support of landmarking the historic Church of St. Mary on Grand Street. See: email.everyaction.com/EmailMessage/P….

LESPI is happy to cosponsor Village Preservation’s Zoom webinar “Oswald Ottendorfer at 200: A Transatlantic Change Agent,” about the Austrian immigrant behind the East Village’s beautiful Ottendorfer Library. To register for this Feb 26 event, see villagepreservation.org/event/oswald-o….

Check out this very interesting article on the current state of NYC landmarking, based on Village Preservation’s recent presentation and panel discussion, which included LESPI & other pres. groups: villagestar-revue.com/hoping-to-reco…. Looking for the new administration to change this trend.

If you missed last Tuesday's webinar and panel discussion based on Village Preservation's recent report analyzing the ups and downs of NYC landmarking over the last 60 years, you can now watch it on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=Z99y2J…. Panelists include LESPI & other pres. orgs.

LESPI is pleased to sponsor an in-person illustrated book talk Feb 19 on the history of The Bowery, presented by author David Mulkins & based on his, "Images of America: The Bowery". For more info & to register for this event at P&T Knitwear books, see: prod.cdn.everyaction.com/emails/van/EA/…

Last night we were thrilled when Community Board 3 Full Board voted unanimously to support the landmarking of the Church of St. Mary on Grand Street. A big thank you to Councilmember Marte, the church parishioners, & LESPI's Deborah Wye. Next stop: NYC LPC!

Tonight, Tuesday, at 6:30pm, Community Board 3 will be voting on whether to approve a resolution to support NYC landmark designation for the historic Church of St. Mary on Grand Street. It's an important vote. The meeting is being held only on Zoom: zoomgov.com/j/1610752263.

Don't miss the webinar tomorrow night, Tuesday, 6:00pm on the state of landmarking today: Why so few new landmarks? What lies ahead? What can we do? Register for this free event with @VillagePreservation, Councilmember Christopher Marte & LESPI at villagepreservation.org/campaign-updat…

Join us this Thursday 1/22 for the “Stop the Jail” rally and press conference, where we’ll be letting Mayor Mamdani know that Chinatown needs affordable housing, not a umpteen story mega-jail. Meet at 111 Centre Street 11:00am. Sponsored by Coalition to Protect Chinatown & LES.

Check out The Lo-Down’s excellent coverage of our campaign to landmark the historic Church of St. Mary on Grand Street: thelodownny.com/leslog/2026/01…

We were thrilled Thursday evening when Community Board 3's Landmarks Committee voted unanimously to support the landmark designation of the Church of St. Mary on Grand St. CB3's Full Board will vote on this Jan 27, 6:30pm at PS 20, 166 Essex St, the public is welcome to attend.

Tonight, Thursday, Community Board 3's Landmarks Committee will be voting on whether to support the NYC landmark designation for St. Mary's Church on Grand St. Show your support by attending this important meeting: 6:30pm at Grand Street Guild, 131 Broome St. We hope to see you!

Manhattan’s Chinatown has been struggling for years. Building a giant mega-jail on its border won’t help. Tomorrow, Sunday, at 11:00am join the rally and press conference calling for affordable housing to be built in its place. Outside 111 Chambers St. We hope to see you!