New Historic District Protects 10-Block Area South of Greenwich Village

SOHO, NY — New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission approved the Sullivan-Thompson Historic District on Tuesday morning, a huge victory for local preservationists who wanted the area protected from hungry real-estate developers.

The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, in particular, has been pushing for the 10 blocks between Houston, MacDougal, Watts and West Broadway — located in western SoHo, just south of Greenwich Village — to be landmarked for years. The area is home to almost 160 beautiful old buildings, many of which were built between the early 19th century and 1920. (Map below.)

This will be NYC's 140th historic district.

“With developers including Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner buying up properties in the area and tearing down historic buildings, landmark protections cannot come a moment too soon," the society’s executive director, Andrew Berman, said the day before the vote.

Related: City to Vote on Expanding Greenwich Village Historic District

This new landmarked area rounds out the three-part South Village Historic District, in the works for a full decade now. The other two parts are located above Houston, and have already been approved.

“From its Federal and Greek Revival style row houses to its tenement buildings and picturesque storefronts, the Sullivan-Thompson Historic District represents more than a century of residential construction,” said Commission Chair Meenakshi Srinivasan. “The district’s rich history of immigration and diversity typifies New York’s essence, one that proudly continues today.”

GVSHP, the South Village community, will hold a community celebration tonight from 6-7 p.m. at the Film Forum at 209 W. Houston St. Residents are invited to toast the South Village and this preservation victory with drinks and light snacks. RSVP is required and can be done so here.

This is a developing story. Refresh the page for updates.

Images courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission