The Urbanists — the MAS membership group of young New Yorkers in their 20s and 30s —  joined advocacy staff on Wednesday night for an informal, insider’s presentation of the advocacy campaigns MAS is championing this year.

Over drinks, Urbanist members learned about the critical role that historic preservation plays in the future of a sustainable city (“the greenest building is the one that is already built”); saving the irreplaceable 19th century buildings of Admiral’s Row, adjacent to the Brooklyn Navy Yard and adapting them to new uses; and, the new vision and plan for Coney Island, one of America’s most iconic neighborhoods.

In addition to this open house, there is an enviable series of MAS Urbanists-only events coming up this spring: including an April tour of Vinegar Hill and Admiral’s Row; an evening with Magnusson Architecture, designers of Melrose Commons, in late May; and a walking tour of the city’s changing streetscapes with Department of Transportation (DOT) officials in June. Click here for more information about these events.

The Urbanists welcome young New Yorkers to sign up and join them throughout the year for these events, discussions and walking tours. To become an Urbanist, click here.