Celebrating Historic Preservation in East New York
December 1, 2018
Preserving East New York and the New York Preservation Archive Project co-hosted a celebration of the historic preservation movement in East New York on December 1, 2018, at the New Lots Library. A year ago, the Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the Empire State Dairy Company in East New York. This was an important success for local preservationists, and there is more still to achieve. At the celebration, both groups looked back at the history of the neighborhood and preservation accomplishments to date in order to inspire audiences for the work ahead. The evening’s speaker lineup featured several experienced preservationists from East New York, Crown Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant who have successfully championed historic districts of their own over the past decade. The evening featured a book signing with authors of Brooklyn’s East New York and Cypress Hills Communities.
Speakers included:
- Zulmilena Then, Founder of Preserving East New York, an initiative to protect and preserve the buildings and places that are of grand value to the community’s history and identity by proposing to create Historic Districts and designate Individual Landmarks for Brooklyn’s Community Board 5.
- Paul Lozito, Board member of the New York Preservation Archive Project, an organization that promotes the history of New York City’s preservation movement through public programs, accessible primary source archives, and oral histories.
- Claudette Brady, Leader of the successful campaign to expand the Bedford Stuyvesant/Stuyvesant Heights Historic District in Brooklyn in 2013.
- Deborah Young, Co-Founder and President of the Crown Heights North Association, dedicated to the preservation of the historic buildings of the Crown Heights North community, and the revitalization, economic advancement, housing stabilization and cultural enhancement of its residents.
- Brian Merlis and Ricardo Gomes, Authors of Brooklyn’s East New York and Cypress Hills Communities. This book contains over 600 images and covers the history of East New York’s development from a Dutch farming village to one of New York’s largest neighborhoods.
Special thanks to the New York State Council on the Arts and Humanities New York for providing support for this effort!
Location:
