The Historic Districts Council (HDC) has announced its Six to Celebrate annual listing of historic New York City neighborhoods that merit historic preservation attention.
Throughout 2025, HDC plans to work with neighborhood partners to set and reach preservation goals through strategic planning, advocacy, outreach, programs, and building public awareness.
Since the program’s inception in 2011, HDC has helped Six to Celebrate groups create five National Register districts; three National Register-eligible district; three National Register Properties; 37 NYC Individual Landmarks; nine NYC Historic Districts (with many others still in the works); one contextual zoning to maintain neighborhood scale and character; and 21 neighborhood surveys that have resulted in the documentation of thousands of historic buildings across the five boroughs.
HDC has also assisted in leveraging over $150,000 in private and public grants for these community-driven projects. Neighborhoods selected also benefit from professionally designed websites, illustrated walking tour brochures, press attention, growing audiences and new contacts in the field.
The 2025 Six to Celebrate are:
Fort Washington Historic District, Washington Heights
HDC will help the Fort Washington Historic District Task Force advocate for community preservation efforts, including a Fort Washington Historic District that includes a stylistically diverse and well preserved stock of the early twentieth-century apartment complexes, which are a character-defining feature of the neighborhood, as well as sites significant to the area’s Jewish heritage.
Manhattan Avenue, Upper West Side
HDC will partner with Landmark West! to explore Manhattan Avenue (West 100 to 104th Streets) on the Upper West Side. HDC will help Landmark West! research the area’s social and architectural history, engage with New York City Housing Authority residents about their historic campuses, and advocate for increased protection at the local and national levels.
Red Hook, Brooklyn
HDC will work with Red Hook Business Alliance (RHBA) to raise awareness of Red Hook’s many unique visible and invisible histories. We will support historic preservation efforts and capacity building, as well as help in the creation of wayfinding and interpretive signage, multimedia assets, events, and exhibitions that create meaningful experiences for both residents and visitors.
Stapleton Waterfront/Lighthouse District, Staten Island
HDC will help the Preservation League of Staten Island and The National Lighthouse Museum advocate for the preservation and full adaptive reactivation of the former Third District US Lighthouse Depot site, a historic waterfront complex of numerous buildings including the lamp shops, barracks, oil vaults, and administration buildings which are at risk of demolition by neglect.
Sunnyside/Woodside, Long Island City
HDC will help the Sunnyside Shines BID elevate Sunnyside and Woodside as a destination for historical, architectural, and cultural enrichment. HDC will conduct a community survey of important historic resources, work on landmarking efforts for significant sites, and develop programming on the area’s history, especially focused on the neighborhood’s role in early affordable housing in New York City.
West Village, Greenwich Village
HDC is partnering with the West Village BID to create a set of storefront design guidelines to help businesses preserve historic architectural details while adapting to modern retail needs. The project will explore the feasibility of implementing a Storefront Master Plan to streamline approvals and encourage high-quality restorations that promote the rich history of the West Village’s commercial corridors.
To view all of our past six to celebrate recipients visit www.6tocelebrate.org.
Photo: The Administration Building at the Third District US Lighthouse Depot in Staten Island, 2025 (provided by Historic Districts Council).
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