Bowery Boogie | A Lower East Side Chronicle

Ralph Lewis, one of the last remaining tenants inside 206 Bowery was kind enough to send along a report on the Landmarks Preservation Commission public hearing from earlier this morning.  The overall vibe with regard to these two Federal-style row houses was reportedly positive.  Good news!

Theater artist Ralph Lewis is hanging on by a thread at 206 Bowery, but is nevertheless fighting the good fight to obtain landmark status for his beloved home.  He’s lived there for nearly a decade and believes “it [206 Bowery] stands for the small and intimate that we just don’t value enough in this town.” [...]

Good news.  The Landmarks Preservation Commission has set the date to hear, amongst other contenders, the case to landmark 206 and 135 Bowery.  Now that’s emergency action!  Both are examples of Federal-style houses built in the early 1800s.

We received an email yesterday from a resident of 206 Bowery regarding the eviction notice, its potential demolition, and possible landmarking.  As reported a couple weeks ago, the Federal-style row house is currently in danger after papers were served to the ground level restaurant supply company – J & D Restaurant Equipment.

In the current issue of the Jewish Week, author Sarah Litwin discusses change, gentrification, and preservation in the Lower East Side.  It’s like a Cliffs Notes of the last few years in the neighborhood. Notable quote: The appearance of vegan bakeries, trendy boutiques and restaurants in the last five years has changed the neighborhood scenery [...]