About the Washington Street Advocacy Group

The Washington Street Advocacy Group focuses on an array of connected issues that build on each other:

  • 5 World Trade Center: We argue that 5 World Trade Center, if it must be a residential skyscraper, should be deeply affordable
  • Downtown Community House: We seek the designation of the Downtown Community House at 105-107 as a city landmark
  • Elizabeth Berger Plaza: We advocate for a worthy memorial in Elizabeth Berger Plaza for the literary heritage of Little Syria
  • Heritage Trails New York: We advocate new historical signs in Lower Manhattan that tell new histories based on current research
  • Lower West Side Preservation Survey: In light of rapid demolition of low-rise buildings, we advocate that the City should perform an active preservation survey in the Lower West Side of Manhattan
  • Percent for Art Reform: We advocate for reforms at the Percent for Art program of the Department of Cultural Affairs that would increase transparency and facilitate better relations with private groups to seek new monuments on city property
  • Project Khalid and Ameen Rihani: We seek to publish the works of Arab-American writer Ameen Rihani (1876-1940) and raise his cultural profile
  • Rector Street Mosque: We seek to publicize the discovery of an early historical mosque in Lower Manhattan at 17 Rector Street
  • September 11 Memorial and Museum: We have sought to influence the September 11 Memorial Museum to increase scholarly rigor in its exhibitions and include a mention of Little Syria in its local history section
  • NYC Monument Siting: We have critiqued several of proposed sitings for the Mayor's new proposed monuments as badly-considered and rushed
  • SoHo NoHo Rezoning: We oppose the SoHo/NoHo rezoning if a vigorous individual landmarks survey is not explored
  • South Street Seaport: We opposed the subversion of the zoning in the South Street Seaport historic district to allow the Howard Hughes Corporation to build a skyscraper
  • St. Joseph Chapel: We opposed the closure of St. Joseph's Chapel in Battery Park City
  • Suffrage Monument in Central Park: We critiqued the method of including Sojourner Truth in the suffrage monument in Central Park
  • Yuga Labs and Bored Ape Yacht Club: We criticize the developing fascist ideology expressed by Silicon Valley billionaire, illuminating the undeniable case involving Yuga Labs and Bored Ape Yacht Club

Copyright, Washington Street Advocacy Group, 2021