Bowery Boogie | A Lower East Side Chronicle

Russian Orthodox Cathedral Considered for Landmarking

Posted: March 9, 2010 at 6:13 am

In an email blast from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP), Andrew Berman reports that the Landmarks Preservation Commission finally set a date to hear the proposal for the Russian Orthodox Cathedral on East Second Street.  Date of the hearing is slated for Tuesday, March 23.

From the inbox:

I wanted to share with you some excellent news — the Landmarks Preservation Commission has set a date for the hearing on the proposal to landmark the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Martyr Protection at 59 East 2nd Street, for Tuesday, March 23rd. The time of the hearing will likely not be known until the Friday before, but as soon as we have more details we will let you know.

As you may recall, in 2008 GVSHP and the East Village Community Coalition with the support of Councilmember Rosie Mendez called upon the LPC to landmark the historic building after learning of the church’s plans to erect an 8-story condo-tower atop it. While that plan is no longer possible under the recently-enacted East Village rezoning, the ultimate fate of the structure remains unclear. Landmarking will help ensure the building’s permanent preservation.

The house of worship itself was erected in 1867, and was designed by famed architect Josiah Cady.

Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Protection, 59 East Second Street, (212) 677-4664