Lower East Side housing stock
The LES housing stock dates from 1840 to 1930, dominated by:
- Pre-law tenements from the 1840s–60s — the earliest tenement form, very compact, often very deep-deteriorated by now.
- Old-law tenements from the 1870s–1900s — the iconic "dumbbell" tenements, five or six stories with elaborate cornice ornament.
- New-law tenements from after 1901, larger and with more light/air requirements.
- Some mid-19th-century row houses on certain streets.
Common deterioration patterns in Lower East Side
LES restoration commonly involves:
- Comprehensive brick repointing on tenement facades.
- Cornice restoration — these tenement cornices are often 100+ years old and badly rusted.
- Pressed-brick ornament repair and replacement.
- FISP work on the larger buildings — most LES buildings are subject to FISP inspection.
Landmark & LPC status
The LES does not have a comprehensive residential LPC district, though some individual buildings (Eldridge Street Synagogue, etc.) are landmarked. Most restoration work proceeds without LPC review, though FISP-driven work has its own review process.
Serving Lower East Side
Lower East Side is well within our active service area, and we welcome new projects here. While our recent project history has been concentrated in nearby neighborhoods, the housing stock in Lower East Side is closely related — and our knowledge of the materials, restoration techniques, and LPC processes carries over directly.
If you are the first Lower East Side project we work on, you will get the same attention, the same on-site supervision, and the same standards of work we bring to every facade in Brooklyn or Manhattan.
How to start
The fastest way is a phone call to Sajin at 631-464-8200. We will set up a time to come to Lower East Side and look at your building. The walkaround is free, takes 30–60 minutes, and there is no obligation to move forward.
If you prefer to send photos and details first, use the contact form. We typically respond within one business day.