East New York’s historic architecture — little of which has been landmarked — is being recognized as part of the Historic Districts Council’s Six to Celebrate program this weekend with a Six to Celebrate Tour.

Longtime neighborhood resident Farrah Lafontant will lead the tour, sharing the history of area gems like the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church, a Magistrates Court, the former East New York Savings Bank site, Maxwell’s Bakery, and the Empire State Dairy Company factory complex.

East New York Brooklyn
Empire State Dairy at 2840 Atlantic Avenue. Photo by Edrei Rodriguez

Lafontant is also a member of Preserving East New York, a group recently formed under the leadership of young junior architect and area native Zulmilena Then. The group was spurred into action by the destruction of the historic East New York Savings Bank and Mayor de Blasio’s controversial rezoning plan, which was recently approved almost unanimously by the City Council.

Currently, there is only one landmarked site in East New York — the New Lots Reformed Dutch Church at 630 New Lots Avenue — but the Empire State Dairy Company was calendared for designation review in March.

Six to Celebrate is a list compiled by the Historic Districts Council of neighborhoods citywide that are deserving but not yet boasting landmark and historic district designation. In addition to East New York, this year’s list also includes Crown Heights South.

East New York
Photo of 484 Liberty Avenue by Zulmilena Then

The East New York tour will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 4. General admission tickets are $20, or $10 for seniors and members, and can be purchased online.

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