41 years of citizen action to protect and preserve the historic structures, residential character and quality of life in the Village of East Hampton
Since its founding in 1982, the Village Preservation Society (VPS) has been a catalytic force in protecting East Hampton’s priceless heritage, and giving voice to village residents.
The VPS boasts a long list of victories: from saving the Gardiner Brown House from bulldozers and preserving the historic Town House, East Hampton’s first meeting place, to raising $150,000 for reconstruction of the Gardiner Windmill, one of East Hampton’s most iconic structures.
The Society works in collaboration with local organizations and village leaders to preserve the past; it also acts to address our community’s quality of life in the present, and anticipate future needs. In 1997 the VPS conducted a quality of life survey which revealed that a lack of access to medical care was a top concern of residents. The Society went on to spearhead the creation of the East Hampton Healthcare Foundation.
While buildings offer tangible evidence of VPS accomplishments, much of the organization’s energies go into serving as watchdog and advocate on key issues, plans and projects affecting life in the village: real estate development, traffic, parking, noise, districting.
The VPS supported the creation and adoption of town and village comprehensive plans and monitors the implementation of village codes, all in an effort to preserve the character of America’s Most Beautiful Village for the generations to come.