13 blocks of Greenwich Village landmarked

The Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to grant an area of Greenwich Village historic status, wrapping up the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation’s 10-year battle to protect the so-called South Village Historic District from the encroachment of New York University and other developers.

The 13-block area is bordered by Washington Street to the north, Sixth Avenue to the west, West Houston Street to the south and La Guardia Place to the east. The nabe includes Cafe Reggio, America’s first Italian coffeehouse, and is home to several key NYU development sites.

The university is aiming to expand by almost 1.9 million square feet in the area, squaring off against local residents and a group called NYU Faculty Against the Sexton Plan. [AP] — Julie Strickland