Parts of East Village, Lower East Side Labeled Historical District

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission has approved a new historical district.

It spans about 15 blocks between Avenue A and the Bowery. Andrew Berman is the Executive director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. He says this distinction defends the history of the area.

"The East Village has been under tremendous pressure," he said. "We've seen a lot of high rise dorms and hotels and big new luxury condos coming into the neighborhood, tearing down the wonderful, old 19th century houses."

But not everyone agrees. The Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Protection sits in the district, and Spokesman Richard Wright says they don't need the city dictating what they can or can't do to their parish.

"It is, quite frankly, an insult for them [New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission] to come in and tell us that they can do a better job at preserving our building when we have been preserving it faithfully since 1943," he said.

Starting today, changes to the area will have to be approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Wright says the parish hopes to remove the landmark designation on their building.