6 LGBT Historic Sites are Now Designated NYC Landmarks!

The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission voted and the decision was *unanimous*: all six LGBT historic sites presented at public hearing earlier this month are now Individual Landmarks!

On Staten Island, the Audre Lorde Residence. On the Upper West Side, the James Baldwin Residence. In SoHo and Greenwich Village, the Gay Activists Alliance Firehouse, the Women’s Liberation Center, the Caffe Cino and the LGBT Community Center. All are now landmarks, designated for their cultural significance to LGBT, New York City and American history.

Original research by the Project team was key to contextualizing place-based LGBT history for the Commission, and was integral in their evaluations. Following meetings with the Commission’s chair, Sarah Carroll, and her staff to discuss how important LGBT-related sites are to the history of New York, these six sites were selected. Their designation places them alongside the city’s architectural landmarks, adding to the diversity of places officially recognized by the city.

Thanks are in Order

To the Landmarks Preservation Commission, for recognizing the place-based history of the LGBT community. And to our colleague organizations around the City for your important support!

To the elected representatives who championed these designations, especially City Council Speaker Corey Johnson. Thank you also to State Senator Brad Hoylman; Assemblymembers Deborah Glick, Richard Gottfried, Linda Rosenthal and Daniel O’Donnell; Councilmembers Margaret Chin, Debi Rose, Daniel Dromm, Carlos Menchaca, Ritchie Torres and Jimmy Van Bramer and former City Council LGBT Caucus member Rosie Mendez; and Borough Presidents Gale Brewer and Ruben Diaz, Jr.

To YOU, and the hundreds of supporters that submitted a letter in support of these designations. Together, we showed that LGBT historic sites provide a tangible, visceral connection to what is often an unknown and invisible past. Thank you!

What’s Next?

Landmark designations must be reviewed by the City Council, starting with the sub-committee on Landmarks, followed by the Land Use committee and, finally, by the full 51-member City Council. We’ll continue to testify in support at every opportunity, alongside our preservation and LGBT colleagues. Please continue to follow our social media channels for updates along the way!

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Read Our Testimony

(1) Audre Lorde Residence,
207 St. Paul’s Avenue,
Staten Island (testimony)

(2) Caffe Cino,
31 Cornelia Street,
Manhattan (testimony)

(3) LGBT Community Center,
208 West 13th Street,
Manhattan (testimony)

(4) James Baldwin Residence,
137 West 71st Street,
Manhattan (testimony)

(5) Women’s Liberation Center,
243 West 20th Street,
Manhattan (testimony)

(6) Gay Activists Alliance Firehouse,
99 Wooster Street,
Manhattan (testimony)