The LPC recently calendared three new buildings for consideration as individual landmarks. LPC’s Research Department presented two buildings in Manhattan and one building in Brooklyn with architecturally and culturally important histories related to major changes in the city during the turn of the century. The calendared items are Public School 15 Annex in Brooklyn, Church of Saint Mary on the Lower East Side and the Lithuanian Alliance Building in Midtown West.
Each building has a unique history that speaks to not only the development of the city but also its immigrant history. Public School 15 Annex was designed by James Naughton in 1889, and has been a focal point for vocational and educational opportunities for women. The Church of Saint Mary was built in 1833 by Patrick Charles Keely, and is one of the oldest Catholic buildings in the city. The Lithuanian Alliance Building was built in 1876-77 by James Springstead, and served as a hub for the Lithuanian community in the city.
Read more about these proposed individual landmarks on our website and send the LPC an email at [email protected] to say you support their designation.
Public School 15 Annex – 362 Schermerhorn Street, Borough of Brooklyn: A three-story annex in Brooklyn, designed in 1889 by James Naughton in Romanesque Revival style with Queen Anne details. Originally constructed to address school overcrowding in the growing town of Brooklyn, the annex evolved into one of New York City’s major continuation schools, offering vocational and educational opportunities to girls and young women—many of them immigrants. Its enduring physical integrity and evolving purpose have made it a significant community landmark and is poised for adaptive reuse as part of new development while retaining its historical character.
Church of Saint Mary – 440 Grand Street: Built in 1833 by prolific Catholic architect and Irish Immigrant Patrick Charles Keeley, this church is one of the earliest Catholic parishes in New York City, built for Irish immigrants seeking maritime jobs. The church is adorned in a Romanesque Revival Style with flanking towers. It has welcomed a host of immigrant communities throughout history and has been a part of the move to build more affordable housing in the Lower East Side.
Lithuanian Alliance Building – 307 West 30th Street: A four-story French flat building in Midtown West that was constructed between 1876 and 1877, developed by brothers Samuel and Edward Ashely, along with architect James Springstead. The Lithuanian Alliance acquired the building in 1910, and exemplifies the lasting impact of New York’s Lithuanian community. The building has operated as an anchor for social support, cultural preservation, and community organization—including publication of a Lithuanian-language newspaper—serving successive generations of Lithuanian immigrants. Its restoration in recent years reflects a commitment to honoring its architectural origins, making it a living testament to both local history and the immigrant experience in the city.