Squadron Testimony in Support of East 10th Street Historic District

NEW YORK -- Today, State Senator Daniel Squadron submitted the attached testimony to the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) in support of the East 10th Street Historic District designation. 

"The block between Avenues A and B demonstrates the four-story scale that has been a trademark of the Lower East Side and East Village for over 100 years – and it would be a shame to jeopardize that history and architecture by not providing historic designation," said Senator Squadron.

Full testimony:

STATE SENATOR DANIEL SQUADRON’S TESTIMONY REGARDING THE EAST 10TH STREET HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION 

January 17, 2012

My name is Daniel Squadron and I represent the 25th District in the New York State Senate. My district includes the Manhattan neighborhoods of the East Village, Tribeca, Battery Park City, the Lower East Side, Chinatown, the Financial District, Little Italy, and SoHo, and the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Vinegar Hill, DUMBO, Fulton Ferry, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens and Gowanus. I would like to thank New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) for the opportunity to testify at this hearing.

I am here today in support of the East 10th Street Historic District designation. In the past few years, the East Village and Lower East Side have experienced rapid change and enormous residential and commercial growth. It is unfortunate that many of these changes occur at the expense of the architectural integrity and character of the neighborhood. We have seen major alterations to the streetscape of the Lower East Side and East Village that are partly the result of a lack of protection that a landmark or historic district designation would provide.

East 10th Street--with its 26 buildings, including the Tompkins Square Branch of the New York Public Library-- represents one of the many streets in our neighborhood that deserves such protection. The neighborhood is home to examples of diverse architectural development, including a range of styles such as Queen Anne, Italianate and Neoclassic, that were built from the 1840s through the 1900s. The block between Avenues A and B demonstrates the four-story scale that has been a trademark of the Lower East Side and East Village for over 100 years – and it would be a shame to jeopardize that history and architecture by not providing historic designation.

I also support a robust role for community boards in the evaluation of issues that affect the community, such as historic district designation.  When a board speaks, I believe their resolutions must be seriously considered. This is why I join Community Board 3 in supporting the East 10th Street Historic District designation, which the board voted in favor of at its July 2011 full board meeting.

In conclusion, I urge the LPC to vote in favor of the East 10th Street Historic District so that our neighborhood’s rich history and architecture remain intact for current and future generations.

Thank you again for the opportunity to testify at this hearing.