The new district may be both preservationist and political.
"The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) voted [Nov. 1] to calendar and move forward on the creation of the Sullivan-Thompson Historic District, the third and final phase of a proposed South Village Historic District," reports The Architect's Newspaper. A map of the proposed district can be found here, from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation.
Preservationists have been pushing to designate the area, much of which was built before 1840, for years. But the move by the LPC is also politically timely because of how it could impact a controversial development near Pier 40.
The creation of the district is one of GVSHP's demands on developers Westbrook Partners and Atlas Capital Group, whose proposal would rezone the site of the former St. John's Terminal. Other demands include "real public open space, public community facilities, more financial support for the pier, significant pedestrian safety measures and traffic mitigation for Hudson Square, and limits on the size of retail at the new development."
A new district would also protect 1.3 million square feet of air rights/FAR that could otherwise be transferred to the project.
There will be a public hearing on the historic district November 29, and a vote in December.
Read the full story: Downtown Manhattan could be getting another historic district
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