New York City Designates Three Historic Landmarks Reflecting Immigrant Heritage
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) announced the designation of three new historic landmarks on Tuesday: the Public School 15 Annex in Boerum Hill, St. Mary’s Church on the Lower East Side, and the Lithuanian Alliance Building in Chelsea. These sites expand the city’s inventory of protected buildings and sites to over 38,500, highlighting their significance in New York City’s rich immigrant history.
During a meeting on Tuesday, LPC officials voted to designate these buildings after a public hearing last month that explored their historical importance. “New York City’s history is a history of immigration, and the three landmarks designated today provide tangible connections to places that helped communities put down roots and create lasting opportunities,” noted Lisa Carsavage, Executive Director of the Landmarks Preservation Commission. “These architecturally distinctive buildings are essential to our mission of ensuring our landmarks reflect the stories of all New Yorkers.”
The Public School 15 Annex, a three-story Romanesque Revival building constructed in 1889, originally served as an addition to the main school building. It became a center for education for women, many from immigrant backgrounds, and in 1927, it housed the Brooklyn Continuing School for Girls. Currently, the Annex hosts Khalil Gibran International Academy, which is notable for being the first public school in New York City to offer a dual language program in Arabic and English.
Developer Alloy is set to construct a new 44-story mixed-use building alongside two additional public schools while preserving the Annexe’s façade. Councilman Lincoln Ressler (D-Brooklyn) expressed gratitude for the preservation efforts, stating, “Creatively reusing this site to address the housing crisis while preserving this architectural treasure is a win for our community. We thank the teams at LPC and Alloy for their work on this.”
St. Mary’s Church, located on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, holds the distinction of being the area’s oldest Roman Catholic church, built in 1833. It has served as a spiritual refuge for Irish Catholics arriving in the 19th century and continues to support a predominantly Spanish-speaking congregation. The church remains largely intact, with only essential repairs undertaken since its façade was renovated in 1864.
Richard D. Moses, president of the Lower East Side Preservation Initiative, remarked, “We were very pleased to work with parishioners and Councilman Marte to promote the church’s important history, and we are thrilled that the committee has established a marker to ensure this spiritual and architectural lighthouse will serve generations to come.”
The Lithuanian Alliance Building in Chelsea has long served as the headquarters for the American-Lithuanian Alliance, providing essential support for Lithuanian immigrants and the city’s Lithuanian-American community. Chosen as the headquarters in 1910 for its proximity to Ellis Island, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2022, following its restoration in 2018.
Alliance board member Danius Glinskis expressed pride in the designation, stating, “Lithuanian-Americans living in New York love and cherish the only Lithuanian-owned building in the greater New York City area. Being recognized by the New York City Landmarks Commission is a great honor and acknowledges our efforts to preserve the building in its original condition since we acquired it in 1910.”
Mayor Zoran Mamdani commended the LPC for their thorough evaluation of the sites. “Immigrants built New York City. Their stories live in every block, every neighborhood, and every corner of the five boroughs. Today, I’m proud to recognize three more places that continue that legacy. These sites have opened doors for generations of newcomers and helped define what it means to belong to the world’s greatest city,” he said.
