Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts, founded in 1982, is an independent, not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to preserving and celebrating the architectural legacy, livability, and sense of place of the Upper East Side.

Preservation in Action

Our mission goes beyond traditional historic preservation. We are also the leading voice for common-sense development on the Upper East Side.

FRIENDS has played – and continues to play – an important role in maintaining and improving the zoning laws which govern development on the area’s avenues and residential side streets.

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Latest Updates

26 Feb

Another Piece of Yorkville’s History Shattered: St. Elizabeth of Hungary to Be Replaced by Luxury Condos

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07 Jan

The Doelger Building Deserves Protection, Not a Wrecking Ball

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04 Dec

The Vertical Shift: Supertalls Push Into the Upper East Side

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19 Nov

2026 Annual Awards Call for Entries

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16 Oct

News from FRIENDS – Fall 2025

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07 Oct

2025 Ambassador of the Upper East Side Award Dinner

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18 Aug

Mayor’s Charter Revision Push Goes to Voters This November

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12 Jun

1000 Park Avenue Receives the FRIENDS 2025 Exterior Restoration Award!

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29 May

FRIENDS Publication Award Celebrates “Rosario Candela and the New York Apartment 1927–1937”

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27 May

Advocacy Alert: Write to state lawmakers about concerning provisions in Faith-Based bill

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21 May

New Upper East Side Individual and Interior Landmark!

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14 May

George M. Janes receives Ralph C. Menapace Award

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14 May

Ronda Wist on Colonial Dames

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29 Apr

Opposition Mounts Against Proposed 5G Tower at 1150 Madison Avenue

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29 Apr

Watch It Again: 2025 Manhattan Borough President Candidates Forum

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29 Apr

Watch It Again: 2025 Mayoral Candidates Forum with Preservation Organizations

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24 Apr

FRIENDS Comments on Mayoral Charter Revision Commission

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23 Apr

Watch It Again: “Yorkville: Housing Laboratory” with Lucie Levine

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28 Jan

FRIENDS Issues Joint Statement Opposing Lenox Hill Hospital Redevelopment Proposal

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14 Jan

Affordable Housing Loss in Yorkville

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17 Dec

LPC Calendars Breuer Building for Individual and Interior Landmark Consideration

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12 Dec

2025 Annual Awards: Call for Entries

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23 Nov

City Council Advances City of Yes for Housing Opportunity Zoning Amendments

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20 Nov

City Council set to vote on “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity”

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31 Oct

News from FRIENDS – Fall 2024

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30 Oct

2024 Ambassador to the Upper East Side Award Dinner

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30 Sep

CPC approves “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity”

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30 Sep

State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) approves 2 Link5G towers on UES

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27 Sep

Council Approves Towering MSK Pavilion Despite Community Pushback

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12 Sep

Advocacy Update: Landmark Denied: A Missed Opportunity for St. Elizabeth’s Church

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11 Sep

FRIENDS comments on recently proposed Link5G towers

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11 Sep

FRIENDS testifies on MSK Pavilion at the City Council hearing

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19 Aug

Using Historic Hotels and Preservation to Create New Housing

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01 Aug

Advocacy Alert: Save St. Elizabeth’s Church

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01 Aug

FRIENDS Board Member testifies on City of Yes for Housing Opportunity at City Planning Commission hearing

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19 Jul

Send in your comments on “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity”

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04 Jun

Watch It Again: “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity: Impacts on Upper East & West Sides” with George Janes

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29 Apr

What you need to know: “Faith Based Affordable Housing Act”

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15 Apr

Advocacy Win: City’s Tech Office Explores Alternative Designs for Link5G Towers After Community Pushback

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15 Apr

FRIENDS testifies at City Hall Subcommittee Hearing

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02 Apr

42nd Annual Meeting and Awards

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23 Mar

Advocacy Alert: Say NO to Lifting the FAR Cap

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13 Mar

Hey Joe; There’s a nail salon in Apartment 5C!

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09 Feb

Advocacy Win vs. Link 5G towers

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05 Feb

Watch It Again: Jacob Wrey Mould and the Artful Beauty of Central Park

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23 Jan

Watch It Again: “City of Yes” with George Janes

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15 Dec

2024 Annual Awards: Call for Entries

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11 Dec

News from FRIENDS – Fall 2025

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30 Aug

Remembering Joan K. Davidson: The Godmother of New York Preservation

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17 May

Sacred Sites Open House: Talk on Stained Glass Windows at The Church of the Holy Trinity

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03 May

Jane’s Walk 2023, Explore the City!

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02 May

Beyond the Bricks Featured on CUNY TV

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26 Apr

Installation of Link5G towers to be halted until completion of Section 106 Review

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26 Apr

FRIENDS Submits Testimony at Scoping Meeting for Lenox Hill Hospital Expansion Plans

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14 Apr

41st Annual Meeting and Awards

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28 Mar

Watch It Again: “Fact and Fiction about the 12FAR Cap” with George Janes

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15 Mar

Advocacy Alert: State Still Pushing to Lift the Lid on NYC Residential Development

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02 Mar

New 2023 Expansion Plans for Northwell Health, Lenox Hill Hospital

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30 Jan

Proposed Assembly Districts: Deja Vu All Over Again?

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18 Jan

FRIENDS weighs in on City’s Link5G towers

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17 Jan

Beyond the Bricks — December 2022 neighborhood walks

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11 Jan

Beyond the Bricks on Fox5 New York

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09 Jan

Advocacy Update: FRIENDS joins Preservation Groups and Elected Officials Protest Demolitions of Landmarked Buildings

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21 Dec

2023 Annual Awards: Call for Entries

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14 Dec

Advocacy Alert: Press Conference to Protest Demolitions of Landmarked Buildings

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07 Dec

Community Alert: 3-story 5G towers coming to the UES?

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29 Nov

Help support FRIENDS in 2022 and beyond

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07 Nov

“Beyond the Bricks” Launch Event November 16th

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25 Oct

2022 Ambassador to the Upper East Side Award Dinner

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06 Oct

Call for Art: Beyond the Bricks

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10 Aug

Proposed Council Districts: Your Interests are About to Take a Backseat

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09 Aug

More Buildings ≠ More Housing, and More Housing ≠ Affordable Housing

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27 May

1299 Third Avenue Update: FRIENDS Appeals DOB’s Endorsement of Segmented Approvals

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25 Apr

BREAKING NEWS! Owner of Treadwell Farm’s Neglected Building Withdraws LPC Application

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25 Apr

Advocacy Alert: 210 East 62nd Street! Your voice needed at LPC this Tuesday

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17 Mar

Advocacy Update: State Legislators Reject Changes to the FAR Cap, Focus Shifts to Governor in Budget Talks

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07 Mar

40th Anniversary Annual Meeting and Awards

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09 Feb

Advocacy Alert: Say NO to Lifting the Cap

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18 Jan

Preservation Alert: 21 East 65th Street demolished due to emergency order

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17 Dec

2022 Annual Awards

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Blood Center Approval: Political Pressures Prevail Over Common Sense

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Demand that the City Council Represent Communities and Respect Member Deference

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18 Nov

“A Really Sketchy Deal”: New Details About the Blood Center Rezoning

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17 Nov

Today in the Daily News: This debate is not about blood. And it’s not just about shadows either. It’s about a meaningful seat at the table.

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11 Nov

Blood Center Approval Over Local Council Member’s Objection Would Pose Direct Assault on Community Voices Citywide

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21 Oct

Submit Written Testimony AGAINST the Blood Center rezoning

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15 Oct

Support Reasonable Alternatives to the Blood Center’s Commercial Tower

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12 Oct

Tell Council Members to vote AGAINST the Blood Center rezoning

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PRESS RELEASE: City Planning Commission Approves Blood Center Rezoning

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05 Aug

Elected Officials and Community Members Voice Their Opposition Against the Blood Center Rezoning

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26 Jul

The Fight Continues: Make Your Voice Heard Once Again on July 29 at the City Planning Commission

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24 May

300 Upper East Siders Joined Elected Officials to Stop the Blood Center Tower

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03 May

East Side Extra: Footloose: A virtual walk through the 1980s Upper East Side

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26 Apr

In The News: UES residents at war with New York Blood Center over HQ building plans

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21 Apr

The New York Blood Center Advances Its Egregious Proposal – Help FRIENDS Fight It!

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13 Apr

38th Annual Meeting and Awards – Watch it Here!

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22 Mar

Ask YOUR questions of the Blood Center/Longfellow tower proposal

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17 Mar

FRIENDS In the News

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10 Mar

Learn More about District 5 Candidates

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10 Mar

38th Annual Meeting and Awards

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Events

03 Mar, 26
Upcoming
An Illustrated Book Talk with Matthew White on “New York Minute: Public Clocks That Make the City Tick”

Tuesday, 6:00 pm

Join us on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, for a special book event with author Matthew White, as he discusses his latest publication, New…

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11 Mar, 26
Upcoming
Grolier Club Private Tour

Wednesday, 11:00 am

Join FRIENDS for a special private tour of the Grolier Club. Founded in 1884, the Grolier Club is America’s oldest and largest society…

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21 Mar, 26
Upcoming
“Our Crowd” in Carnegie Hill

Saturday, 12:00 pm

Since the end of the 19th century, many elite Jewish families have called Carnegie Hill home. Join FRIENDS and architectural historian Matt Postal…

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25 Apr, 26
Upcoming
Upstairs Downstairs

Saturday, 12:00 pm

This walking tour with FRIENDS and architectural historian Matt Postal examines the Upper East Side in all its variety, from the finest tree-lined…

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Preservation in Action

Latest Updates

Events

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