331 East 6th Street

The East Village Townhouse

The East Village townhouse at 331 East 6^th Street was one of the oldest structures in the neighborhood, dating back to 1852. Upon its sale in 2008, permits were filed with the Department of Buildings hinting at structural additions such as a possible penthouse on the top floor. However, the new owners had more drastic intentions for the historic building.
EV Grieve reports that, as of Labor Day, the East Village townhouse at 331 East 6^th Street is now completely demolished. Recently, the property’s owners obtained a permit to demolish the “front and rear façade, all roof and floor structures.” The destruction of the East Village townhouse hints at a possible new residential development in the neighborhood, though height and design restrictions have been put in place for that part of the East Village.
The destruction of this building comes as a blow to neighborhood preservationist groups after the Community Board passed a preliminary historic district in the East Village. In fact, 331 East 6^th Street is located within the proposed historic district, and it is located two doors away from the Community Synagogue, which is a national landmark. The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation has already issued a statement decrying the building’s destruction and expressed that any new development “will no doubt contribute significantly less to the history and character of the block and neighborhood than its 150 year old predecessor.”