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First Hungarian Church

Support FRIENDS, your preservation “boots on the ground”

At FRIENDS, we relish our role as your watchdog for the Upper East Side. We fight to protect everything you love about the neighborhood — the gorgeous architecture, the tree-lined streets, and the mom-and-pop businesses.

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78th Street

Help FRIENDS Fight Against Upper East Side Mega-Towers

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? That's what I said when I saw this image showing the impact of two massive residential towers looming over a block of historic, elegant, five-story row houses like Behemoth Bookends.

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U.S. Supreme Court Denies Stahl an Appeal AGAIN

FRIENDS is thrilled to share the news that the U.S. Supreme Court has denied Stahl an appeal for the second time.

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Advocacy Alert: Stand with FDNY Union for State Zoning Reform

On top of undercutting predictable development and the intent of zoning regulations, the inclusion of empty “mechanical” voids in the core of new buildings poses grave safety concerns for New York City’s firefighters and the citizens they protect every day.

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Two New Upper East Side Landmarks!

Today, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) voted to designate the First Hungarian Reformed Church (a.k.a. 344-346 East 69th Street) designed by Emery Roth and built from 1915-1916 and the exteriors of the National Society of Colonial Dames building (a.k.a. 215 East 71st Street) designed by Richard Henry Dana Jr. and built from 1929-1930 as Individual Landmarks.

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Mechanical Voids Zoning Text Amendment Summary and Impact

On Wednesday, May 29th, the New York City Council voted to amend the Zoning Resolution to cap exempt mechanical void space within new buildings in residential neighborhoods.

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New York Times Covers FRIENDS’ Challenge of 1059 Third Avenue

As reported in April 2019, FRIENDS of the Upper East Side Historic Districts filed a zoning challenge against 1059 Third Avenue, at the corner of East 63rd Street.

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Delacorte Theater, Central Park

New June Event!

FRIENDS is pleased to offer this extremely limited opportunity to venture behind the scenes at Central Park’s center stage: the Delacorte Theater.

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City Planning Void graphic

Breaking! City Council Passes 25-foot Limit to Uncounted Mechanical Void Spaces

FRIENDS is pleased to offer this extremely limited opportunity to venture behind the scenes at Central Park’s center stage: the Delacorte Theater.

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Marx Brothers Playground

Decision Regarding Marx Brothers Playground Issued

FRIENDS is grateful for the support of the community who supported this fight, and who continue to believe in the importance of protecting our neighborhood’s public open space.

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FRIENDS of the Upper East Side 2020