Campaign Underway to Landmark Nieberg Funeral Home (aka Soho House) at 139 Ludlow
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139 Ludlow St., future home of Ludlow House
The push to landmark 139-141 Ludlow Street is now underway. This hulking mid-block property – the former H. Nieberg Funeral Home – is currently owned by Soho House, which plans on opening an upscale location here in the coming year.
When Soho House first announced its plans to convert the historic structure, local preservationists were worried about the integrity of the building itself during the changeover. Would the transformation drastically change the character of the building, etc. Much of their pitch to the neighborhood (nay, the Community Board 3), however, hinged on the veiled threat that without this “Ludlow House,” the 1930 building could be sold into demolition. Now let’s see if they’ll walk the walk.
Through the collective efforts of Friends of the Lower East Side, East Village Community Coalition, and Allison B. Siegel (resident historian at Bowery Boogie), an official “request for evaluation” was submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission last Friday. It’s a waiting game from here on out.
The formal petition to landmark 139 Ludlow Street is now circulating online, so head on over to make your mark.
For a more extensive history on the building, be sure to check out our previous post Big Burial Man.
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