Lower East Side declared endangered

The Lower East Side has been designated as one of the 11 most endangered in places in the country by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “Slapdash and haphazard renovations have led to the destruction of architectural detail, while modern additions to historic buildings sharply contrast with the neighborhood’s scale and character,” the National Trust said. Christopher Mele, author of “Selling the Lower East Side: Culture, Real Estate, and Resistance in New York City,” said that since the ’80s the “local culture has been under prey from the forces of real estate development.” The trust urged the creation of a Lower East Side Historic District.