History In The Breaking: Is “The Village” Slowly Being Wiped Off The Historical Map?

They say that those who don’t learn from “history” and their mistakes are bound to repeat them. But, now it seems that part of the history many of us New Yorkers have left to live and learn from is quickly becoming endangered. And, when it comes to historical NYC, for many the area that comes to mind is the heart of Greewich Village, home to Federal style home of the 1820, the city’s first same-sex bars, and Beat poet cafes of the 1950s which gave way to the “revolutionaries” of the 1960 and 70s. Yet, the Southern village never got the “respect” or recognition it deserved, or that other parts of The Village were granted about 40 years ago. And, that’s what let to the downfall (via wrecking ball) to many noteworthy and historic structures such as the Edgar Allan Poe House back in 2001 to clear the path for NYU’s Law School.

But, for many, this changing neighborhood is also changing the face of a rich history, which has made New York what it is today.

They note that the South Village was the heart and soul of the immigrant movement, with settlers from Italy (and other nations) calling this section their home, while the rest of Greenwich remained a bit more prim, proper and upscale.

In fact, the South Village, a 35-blick area just South of West 4th Street bordering LaGuardia and Seventh Avenue was designated as part of the original Greenwich Village Historic District application back in 1969.

However, the neighborhood never made it to the final protected district, leaving it defenseless to a demanding (real estate) market, and profit-savvy developers.

Still, many realize its value and want to help preserve it, especially since much of it remains intact.

And, this may soon be a “reality”, as the area was recently given some safeguard by making it eligible for inclusion on the State and National Register of Historic Sites, prohibiting building that would interfere with the overall nostalgia and ambiance of the neighborhood and be out of character with surrounding blocks.

And, the Landmarks Preservation Commission is currently reviewing the request to landmark the area, but it’s a long and tedious process that calls for a close look at each building and contacting almost every landlord.