Photo Courtesy of Alissa Fleck

By Alissa Fleck

When the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP) first discovered that developer Stephan Boivin intended to raze the 1824 federal style house formerly belonging to Beastie Boy Adam Horovitz, the group focused primarily on the house’s architectural merit. Boivin’s development group, Nordica, hoped to transform the house into apartments and retail space.

The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) responded to community advocates in favor of the building’s preservation by saying the house does not qualify as a landmark because it does not retain enough of its original material, though its general area in the neighborhood is still under consideration.

After this obstacle and further research, the GVSHP began to focus instead on the house’s rich history and ties to the LGBTQ community. As the group explained, the City has never before declared something a landmark based on the history of the gay and lesbian movement.

At a press conference outside the Spring Street house today, elected officials and community advocates came together to speak to this colorful history. Senator Tom Duane, the second openly gay member of the New York State legislature, appeared at the conference to make a statement, and Council Speaker Christine Quinn sent a letter in support.

Steve Ashkinazy, Stonewall Democratic Club executive committee member, said early leaders of the Gay Activists Alliance (GAA) formerly resided in the South Village home. The GAA group was the blueprint for the LGBT movement, he explained.

“Now they want to turn it into a mall,” said Ashkinazy. “The City says it does not retain enough of its original character…it’s clearly older than its surroundings. It’s visually and architecturally a standout with a story to tell.”

“The world has changed here and New York needs this landmark,” he added.

GVSHP Executive Director Andrew Berman said, of former residents with ties to the gay rights movement: “People who lived here touched others’ lives.”

He added, as an openly gay man who has worked under Senator Duane and is well-versed in the region and the struggles of civil rights groups, even “for [him], this house was a lesson.”

Laurence Frommer, a licensed NYC tour guide, said he, and others, have been reaching out to queer historians, hoping to bring the matter to national attention. While the midday turnout was a relatively small spattering, Frommer said he had been hoping for “a cast of thousands.”

“As somebody interested in chronicling and presenting LGBT history, this is important,” said Frommer. “It should be landmarked. There should be a plaque.”

“There’s so much in the City we don’t know about,” said Frommer. “How did it get lost?”

As for the civil rights angle, Frommer said he believes the City is trying presently to make up for a lack of African American historical representation, but they should be focusing on LGBTQ history also, and every other group as well. He said the City usually preserves landmarks based on architectural merit and less so cultural matters or history, but culture should be “considered a lot more.”

Sen. Tom Duane

Senator Tom Duane, a longtime outspoken gay-rights activist, is leaving the State Senate on January 1st after a prolific 14-year career representing Manhattan communities from East Midtown, Downtown and the Upper West Side. Duane says he’s ready to move on with his life, though he plans to remain active in pursuing the agenda items most important to him in whatever way he can. We spoke to the Senator about his reasons for retiring and his plans for the future.

What made you decide not to seek reelection?

I’ve been here for seven terms, I wanted to do something else and realized it’s time to start the next chapter.

How have you seen state politics evolve in the course of your career?

I’ve seen much of the legislation I pushed for have a direct impact on people’s lives. I’ve seen these things spread to other cities and states as well. It’s been important to me to work hard to pass legislation that serves as a model for other cities.

What were the defining moments of your career as a member of the Senate?

I think I set a good example in that every piece of legislation I pushed for, whether in the minority or majority, [and] had support from both sides of the aisle. I also made a direct impact on people’s lives passing legislation on hate crimes, health care, marriage equality, gender identity expression and sex trafficking. I supported the Midwifery Modernization act to allow nurse midwives to practice in New York State. I’ve supported routine HIV testing and helped lessen the stigma, particularly within correctional facilities. I also supported the prohibition of insurance companies to create tier four drugs with incredibly expensive co-payments.

What are your plans now that you have made the decision to retire from the Senate?

I would say “retire” is not a completely accurate term, I’m just not ready for reelection. I plan to continue working in my own small way to make the world a better place, I’m just not sure of the form of that yet. I plan to indulge in the luxury of thinking about what that may be. I hope to continue working for those who have not had a voice in government. I will still focus on working incredibly hard until the end of my term on January 1st.

What will you miss the most?

I’ll miss the challenges of garnering the widest possible support for issues I believe in, especially from people who have not shared my points of view. I’ll miss finding that common ground, and working with people in a collegial manner to pass bills that help people in a way they should be helped. Now I’ll be doing that in a different way than in elected office.

—Alissa Fleck

Brad Hoylman

Brad Hoylman, who is planning to run for the seat held by retiring state Sen. Tom Duane, said he was “humbled” by Duane’s encouragement of his candidacy.

In an interview on Capital Tonight with Liz Benjamin, Duane said he hopes Brad Hoylman runs for the seat and that he would make “a terrific state senator.”

“One of my closest friends is Brad Hoylman, and I’ve made no secret at all of my fondness for him,” Duane said. “I haven’t officially made an endorsement. I don’t know who else would be in the field. But I would be very proud to have Brad Hoylman represent me in the district I have been representing.”

Hoylman said he welcomed the incumbent’s remarks, which fell just short of an endorsement.

“I’m extremely humbled by Tom Duane’s comments about me and nothing would make me prouder than to continue his sterling legacy of being a champion for our community and those who normally don’t have a voice in the halls of government,” said Hoylman, who until recently was the senior vice president and general counsel for the Partnership for New York. “His 14-year legislative record is really without parallel and will be a hard act to follow, but I hope I can continue Tom’s progressive, activist work. I’d be honored to have his support for my State Senate bid in the 27th District.”

This article originally appeared on the City & State website. To read more from City & State click here.