The Woolworth Building was built in 1911-1913 for the Woolworth retail chain company. Frank W. Woolworth bought the long-coveted tract of land on Broadway opposite City Hall Park in 1909 and hired Cass Gilbert as architect; Gilbert urged his client to make the new headquarters the tallest building in the world. Woolworth, in turn, influenced by his travels to Europe, wanted his architect to design it in neo-Gothic style. After several redesigns, one higher than the other, finally to exceed the rivalling Metropolitan Life Tower, the foundations were laid in August 1911 and, at the rate of one and a half storeys a week, the 60-storey building was completed two years later.
Rising from a 27-storey base, with limestone and granite lower floors, the tower is clad in white terra-cotta and capped with an elaborate set-back Gothic top, with the spire rising to the height of 241.5 m. It was to be the tallest building in the world for 17 years, until the 40 Wall Street exceeded its height.
The building boasts a highly decorated, three-storey marble lobby in the plan form of a latin cross, with semicircular arches, bronze ornaments and sculpted corbels on the walls (one of which represents Mr. Woolworth himself counting his dimes) and the vaulted ceiling decorated with glass mosaic in Byzantine style. No wonder the building was dubbed the "Cathedral of Commerce."
The building was opened in April 1913 with a gala for 800 persons, and the building's lights were switched on by President Wilson from the White House in Washington, D.C.
In 1980 the building exterior was restored to its original splendour, an assignment that cost more than the original construction work.
The Woolworth chain eventually went out of business and its successor, the Venator Group, sold the building to the Witkoff Group for $155 million in June 1998.
The NY University's School of Continuing and Professional Studies will expand to the first three office floors of the building (8,700 m²), with a separate entrance lobby on Barclay Street, equipped with new escalators. Also the top half of the building is facing new use, the space being converted into 145 luxury condominiums, designed by Costas Kondylis.
In 2007, the Woolworth Building was ranked #44 on the AIA 150 America's Favorite Architecture list.
National Register #66000554
Tags: New York City NYC Woolworth Building skyscraper skyline Manhattan Art deco Neo-Gothic tower spire Cathedral of Commerce Woolworth Cass Gilbert Civic center downtown New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission landmark AIA150 ny New York National Register of Historic Places NRHP U.S. National Register of Historic Places National Historic Landmark NHL U.S. National Historic Landmark NYCLPC
South Street Seaport, located where Fulton Street meets the East River, and adjacent to the Financial District, features some of the oldest architecture in downtown Manhattan including renovated original mercantile buildings from the early 19th century, renovated sailing ships, and the former Fulton Fish Market. The Seaport itself now operates primarily as a mall and tourism center.
It sits within the South Street Seaport Hisoric District and Extension, which was designated a historic district by the New York City Landmarks Preservation commission in 1977 and 1989.
South Street Seaport National Register #72000883
South Street Seaport Historic District National Register #72000884
Tags: New York City NYC Seaport Historic District Manhattan downtown Fulton Market South Street Seaport Fulton Street South Street Seaport Historic District Urban Waterfront NYCLPC New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission new york city historic district south street seaport historic district and extension ny landmark New York National Register of Historic Places NRHP U.S. National Register of Historic Places
South Street Seaport, located where Fulton Street meets the East River, and adjacent to the Financial District, features some of the oldest architecture in downtown Manhattan including renovated original mercantile buildings from the early 19th century, renovated sailing ships, and the former Fulton Fish Market. The Seaport itself now operates primarily as a mall and tourism center. Built on Pier 17 on the East River, visitors are offered shops and a food court. Decks outside allow views of the East River, Brooklyn Bridge and Brooklyn Heights.
Now known by her last official designation "Ambrose," NO. 87 was built (1907) to serve as the first lightship on the newly established Nantucket station, where she served to guide mariners into the nation's busiest port, New York. NO. 87 is also important in the history of radio, being the first successful shipboard radio beacon used to guide ships at long distances in poor weather.
It sits within the South Street Seaport Hisoric District and Extension, which was designated a historic district by the New York City Landmarks Preservation commission in 1977 and 1989.
Ambrose National Register #84002758
South Street Seaport National Register #72000883
South Street Seaport Historic District National Register #72000884
Tags: New York City NYC Manhattan Seaport Historic District downtown South Street Seaport Pier 17 Ambrose lightship No. 87 lightship #87 South Street Seaport Historic District Urban Waterfront tallship ship boat mall NYCLPC New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission new york city historic district south street seaport historic district and extension landmark ny New York National Register of Historic Places NRHP U.S. National Register of Historic Places National Historic Landmark NHL U.S. National Historic Landmark
Situated on landfill extending 600 feet beyond the original shoreline, these six counting houses were built as a speculative venture by the merchant and ship owner Peter Schermerhorn. Designed to serve the modest sailing ship trade and small business economy of early 19th century New York, these buildings are among the best surviving examples of the counting house type. Built as a group like residential row houses, counting houses represent an early phase in the development of commercial architecture in New York when buildings had not yet acquired architectural individuality based on their function. Combining Federal Style and Greek Revival elements, these structures evolved from 18th century English counting halls, which had derived from 17th century market halls. The structures' simple Flemish bond brick walls and plain white stone lintels and sills contrast with their more elaborate doorways.
Schermerhorn Row Block was designated a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1968. It sits within the South Street Seaport Hisoric District and Extension, which was designated a historic district by the New York City Landmarks Preservation commission in 1977 and 1989.
Schermerhorn Row Block National Register #71000547
South Street Seaport National Register #72000883
South Street Seaport Historic District National Register #72000884
Tags: New York City NYC Seaport Historic District Manhattan downtown Schermerhorn Row Fulton Street South Street Seaport Georgian Federal neo-Georgian neo-Federal Schermerhorn Row Block New York State Maritime Museum Block South Street Seaport Historic District neoclassical neoclassicism Georgian Revival Neo-Baroque NYCLPC New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission New york City historic district south street seaport historic district and extension ny landmark flemish bond brickwork flemish bond New York National Register of Historic Places NRHP U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Nathan Hale Park, or City Hall Park, called the Common in the 18th century when it was at the northern edge of the city on a triangular plot formed by the confluence of the Bloomingdale Road (now Broadway) and the Boston Post Road (now Park Row and father north, the Bowery). On the Common a prison was constructed, and nearby, a poor house, as well as a powder house and barracks as part of the city’s defenses. After the Revolution, the city entered a new era of prosperity and growth that required the construction of a new City Hall. The park was enlarged to its present size in the late 1930’s with he razing of the old Federal Building that occupied most of the southern corner of the triangle and housed a post office and court.
Originally designed in 1871, Jacob Wrey Mould's ornate granite Victorian fountain, was installed in front of the Post Office that stood at the triangular tip of City Hall Park. Dubbed "Mullet's monstrosity", plans were underway to demolish the post office by 1920 and the fountain was disassembled and moved to Crotona Park in the Bronx. Because of a land-rights dispute between the city and federal authorities, the building stood until 1938, when the beautification of City Hall Park for the 1939 World's Fair hastened its demise. When Rudy Giuliani observed the unfinished status of the park upon taking his second oath of office as mayor, he decided to do something about it. City Hall Park was renovated in 1999 to return to its pre-Civil War splendor as part of his legacy. Jacob Wrey Mould Fountain was returned from the Bronx to the Park, to replace the Delacorte Fountain, which opened in 1977. At night the fountain is lit by four gas bronze candelabras, reconstructed from Mould's designs, and underwater floodlights. The fountain is a granite basin with semi-circular pools on each side of a central cascade.
New York City Hall, on Murray Street between Broadway and Park Row, is the seat of government of the City of New York. City Hall houses the mayor's office and the New York City Council. The New York City Hall building was designed by John McComb, Jr. and Joseph François Mangin. Construction of the City Hall building began in 1803 and was completed in 1812. The building's front facade is marble and granite, while the back is sandstone. The building's distinctive cupola has served as a model for spires on other buildings, notably Eliot House at Harvard University.
City Hall was designated a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1966. The interior was designated in 1976.
City Hall National Register #66000539
Tags: NYC City Hall park Nathan Hale Park City Hall Park Nathan Hale City Hall Park Downtown Fountain Manhattan New York City perspective Georgian Federal neo-Georgian neo-Federal Georgian Revival Neo-Baroque John McComb Jr Joseph François Mangin Joseph-Francois Mangin New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission civic center Jacob Wrey Mould Jacob Wrey Mould fountain lamps candelabras gas lamp J landmark ny New York National Register of Historic Places NRHP U.S. National Register of Historic Places National Historic Landmark NHL U.S. National Historic Landmark NYCLPC