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The Lower East Side Preservation Initiative, known as LESPI, is a not-for-profit corporation registered in New York State whose goal is to preserve the remaining historic architecture and streetscapes of Manhattan’s East Village and Lower East Side. Formed in 2007, its members are local residents and preservationists who volunteer their time and expertise in three major areas
 * surveying and mapping the targeted area to document still-existing buildings and spaces of historic value
 * oral history collection
 * community education and outreach.

Objectives
LESPI's activities grow out of its three objectives:

1. to work toward official designation of the Lower East Side as a New York City Historic District by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC). LESPI's concern stems from The National Trust for Historic Preservation's placement of the Lower East Side in its 2008 list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Because of the LES's ties to the history of immigrants whose descendants have spread throughout the nation and to the social and architectural history of housing and business in NYC, the LES has played a major role in the history of the United States. In January 2012 the LPC voted unanimously to landmark the East 10th Street Historic District, which is a part of LESPI's targeted area. historic streetscapes and buildings serve as markers that tell us of an architectural and cultural history that has been central in the development of the city as well as the country the first NYC historic district designated in large part because of its ties to immigrant and tenement history and architecture.

2. to educate the public about the history and architectural value of the Lower East Side and about threats from development to its preservation through their web site (http://www.lespi-nyc.org/), quarterly Newsletters, occasional Newsflashes, a Facebook page, and other material.

3. to engage residents of the Lower East Side through events that enlist their interest and enthusiasm in preserving their neighborhood. “Germany in America: Kleindeutschland and New York City’s Lower East Side” by Dr. Richard Haberstroh at the Neighborhood Preservation Center, which also featured German food and beer from Zum Schneider, a local German biergarten. “Art and Architecture Slam” at the BathHouse Studios on E 11th St in October 2011. Let’s Save the East Village / Lower East Side – Neighbors and Friends meet and greet at Theater for the New City in January 2011

LESPI's fiscal sponsor is Fund for the City of New York