East Village's Anthology Film Archives will expand with LPC approval

The Landmarks Preservation Commission has approved plans that will allow the Anthology Film Archives to expand its space at 32 Second Avenue in the East Village.

The LPC gave the cinema preservation center the green light to proceed with plans for an additional story, designed by Bone/Levine Architects and added onto its crown, that will create space for a new library and cafe addition, reports DNAinfo. The cafe is much-needed in order to increase revenue from food and drinks since, according to co-founder Jonas Mekas, film screenings alone weren’t bringing in enough to cover operating expenses.

The additional library space will also allow the center to display about 30,000 rolls of film, periodicals, and other artifacts that are being kept in the building’s basement, unseen by the general public due to a lack of space. It’s facade will feature coated copper along with a metal mesh top.

The building dates back to 1917 when it was constructed with designs by Alfred Hopkins. Up until 1946, it was utilized as the Third District Magistrates Court before it fell into disrepair. In 1979, Anthology Film Archives bought the building and remodeled it, keeping it as a film center ever since.

• Landmarks Approves Library and Cafe Expansion for Anthology Film Archives [DNAinfo]