The “South Village” extension would bring roughly 235 buildings under Landmarks jurisdiction. On October 27, 2009, Landmarks heard testimony on the proposed designation of the Greenwich Village Historic District Extension II. The proposal, referred to as the South Village Historic District by some, includes 235 buildings and consists of two sections contiguous to the Greenwich Village Historic District.

The extension’s larger section encompasses eleven blocks generally bounded by West 4th Street to the north, West Houston Street to the south, Sixth Avenue to the east, and Seventh Avenue South to the west. The smaller section includes the west side of Seventh Avenue South between Leroy and Clarkson Streets. The area, characterized largely by Federal style and Greek Revival rowhouses from the early 19th century, also includes the 1926 Baroque-inspired Our Lady of Pompeii Church and the 1907 flatiron-shaped Varitype Building at West 4th Street and Sixth Avenue.

Chair Robert B. Tierney opened the hearing by pointing out that the Greenwich Village area is one of the most protected areas in the City. Tierney pointed out that more than 2,400 properties in the area benefit from Landmarks’ protection and noted that Landmarks takes “strong issue” with the “unsympathetic alterations” currently threatening several buildings in the study area.

Preservation groups and elected officials greeted the proposal with enthusiasm. Representatives of City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, Senator Thomas K. Duane, and Assembly Member Deborah J. Glick testified in support of the extension. Duane’s representative said the area was in need of designation and urged Landmarks to “designate as expeditiously as possible.” Andrew Berman, president of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, testified that few areas in the City have a more compelling record of “cultural innovation and ferment over the last century.

Landmarks did not set a date for a designation vote.

LPC: Greenwich Village Historic District Extension II, Manhattan (LP-2366) (Oct. 27, 2009).