NEW HISTORIC DISTRICT PROPOSAL

LESPI and FOTLES have joined together to propose to the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) a new Oliver Street—Alfred E. Smith Historic District. It’s astonishing that, presently, no NYC historic districts have been designated in the Lower East Side below Houston Street, a storied neighborhood for both the city and nation. We cannot lose our connection to this community’s unique history, so closely linked to our country’s story of immigration.

Alfred E. Smith (1873-1944) was a four-term governor of New York, and the Democratic nominee for President in 1928. He was the first Roman Catholic candidate to run for a major party. His unlikely rise from humble beginnings in the old 4th Ward (now roughly between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges) — where he started out as a laborer at the Fulton fish market — is legendary.

LESPI’s historic district proposal, submitted to the LPC in August, focuses on a triangular area bordered by Oliver Street, where Smith spent over 20 years of his life, Madison Street, and St. James Place. These streets remain much the same as when Smith walked them. His Federal-era house at 25 Oliver Street sits among a row of similar 3-story buildings from that period. Likewise, Smith’s church, St. James, built in 1836, as well as his school (now called Transfiguration School), built in 1868, remain very much intact and recall a vivid past.

Here one also finds the imposing Mariners Temple and the 17th century First Shearith Israel Cemetery, both places Smith would have passed by daily. In addition, residential buildings, from c. 1820-1901, demonstrate the evolution of housing as waves of immigrants arrived. Our proposed district both honors a singular figure in the city’s history and safeguards a remarkably intact built environment, reminding us of earlier periods and offering a context for our present and future.

Photos: Bruce Monroe (upper left); MCNY at upper right.

LATEST (BAD) NEWS ON HISTORIC EAST RIVER PARK BUILDINGS

Unfortunately there’s only a slight glimmer of decent news amidst what is essentially very bad news on the fate of the East River Park’s historic Track House and Tennis Center Comfort Station. It looks like neither building will be saved from demolition, as specified under the City’s plan to demolish the existing park and reconstruct it at a new grade level (see HERE for more info). 

Despite LESPI’s three year-long preservation campaign, which resulted in the buildings being listed as eligible for the State and National Register of Historic Places, the Tennis Center was demolished earlier this month. There’s nothing more to say than this was a tragic, missed opportunity to restore, renovate and reuse this wonderful building, faced with limestone and ornamented with beautiful terra cotta designed with motifs specifically referring to the park’s waterfront location and its maritime history. As a result of LESPI’s urging, the Parks Department has salvaged some of the building’s terra cotta ornament. But the Tennis Center Comfort Station is now gone — a painful loss for the park and the Lower East Side.

The Tennis Center’s sister building, the Track House, is scheduled for demolition at a later date, and it appears the City is unwavering in its commitment to destroy the building. However, LESPI met with the Parks Department staff on-site in August, and it looks likely that examples of the facade’s wonderful terra cotta ornament, including the spandrel plaques with stylized fish, will be salvaged. Future plans include incorporating terra cotta ornament from both buildings in a display within the interior of the park’s new Track House, where it can be regularly viewed and enjoyed by the public. We expect this display to be accompanied by educational panels describing the park’s history and its original architecture. We’ll keep you posted as we get more news from the City.

Images: from upper left: NYC Parks Dept. Archives; Bruce Monroe; Helena Andreyko; rendering by Merica May Jensen / Davies Toews Architecture

LESPI’S “CHINATOWN: LENS ON THE LOWER EAST SIDE" NOW AT NYPL

Some good news: LESPI's "Chinatown: Lens on the Lower East Side" is now available at the New York Public Library Chatham Square Branch's reference section, for in-library use. See HERE. Or, you can buy a copy at Museum of Chinese in America, Pearl River Mart, Yu and Me Books, McNally Jackson, or Printed Matter (call first to confirm availability). Enjoy!

UPCOMING LESPI EVENTS

LESPI TOURS OPENED EYES TO LES HISTORY & ARCHITECTURE

Over the summer LESPI led two wonderful tours of the Lower East Side.

Saint Mary's Grand

In July, LESPI Vice President Carolyn Ratcliffe led a tour of the beautiful St. Mary’s Church on Grand Street, as part of the NY Landmarks Conservancy’s Sacred Sites Program Open House. Despite the steaming hot day, participants visually feasted on the beautiful architecture, including the sanctuary and stained glass. The church was originally constructed in the 1840s, and altered in the 1870s, with significant portions of the original church still extant. As Carolyn pointed out, “churches, synagogues and other houses of worship represent part of the culture of the people who made New York City. The buildings still exist because people care about them and they are an integral part of the history of the city.”

"Attention Armchair Preservationists" LES Tour

Earlier this month, LESPI Board Member and urban historian Barry Feldman led his "Attention Armchair Preservationists" tour of the historic Lower East Side, cosponsored by LESPI and LESJC. Despite on-and-off-again rain showers throughout the tour, participants enjoyed an on-site review of facade ornamentation terminology, how to distinguish original facade material from later alterations, how to judge what the NYC Landmarks Commission would likely deem landmark-worthy, and much more. The 2 hour-plus tour covered much of LESPI’s proposed Lower East Side Tenement historic district, providing us all a very good physical as well as mental work-out!

Photos: Catholic New York; Richard Moses.