This block was taken over by arts groups long ago, especially theaters. During the Bloomberg administration, the buildings were sold to the arts groups in them for a dollar, who then brought them up to code. FAB NYC is the organizer and support office, they also program events on the street here and Avenue B's Open Street (near 8th and 9th Streets) and in many other ways, help to develop the vibrancy of this community. Green Map System is part of their local network and our organization takes part in LES History Month that FABNYC organizes and our director, Wendy Brawer, was named an LES Community Hero by them in 2016.