In September 2008, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) designated this address as a landmark, according to an article in The Villager. Some history from the article:
The two-story Public National Bank of New York was completed in 1923 ... It was designed by Eugene Schoen, who was the architect for other Public National Bank branches, which totaled 30 in 1928 and had $135 million in deposits.
Schoen, a New York City native, studied in Vienna with Josef Hoffmann, a founder in the late 1890s of the Viennese Secessionist school, which broke away from the prevailing academic and historic style of art and architecture.
The Public National Bank, later known as the Tompkins Square Bank, closed the Avenue C branch in 1954 and merged the following year with Bankers Trust.
Originally two stories, an intermediate floor was added between the first and second floors when the building was converted in 1954 to a nursing home. In the 1980s the Avenue C building was converted to apartments.
Anyway, given the landmark status, nothing too drastic can happen here (we think!) ... There isn't much information about the job on the DOB website — "INSTALLATION OF 106 LINEAR FEET OF HEAVY DUTY SIDEWALK SHED FOR BUILDING ALTERATION."
And later last night...
The address is particularly notable for its entrance. Here's how the LPC described it back in 2008 (PDF):
The entrance is surmounted by notable polychrome Viennese-inspired terra cotta ornament in the form of a decorative band above which is a cartouche with a wreath of fruit (which originally held a clock) above an eagle, flanked by curvilinear forms and decorative urns.
The corner entrance was filled in through the years ...
And here it is (sorry about the quality of the photo) in 1939...
...and 1983...
...and almost present day...
[Top three photos via the LPC]
Thanks for this! I've always wondered about this building -- love that weird little fruit circle.
ReplyDeleteIt also has a cameo in the opening credits of the rebooted Electric Company on PBS: http://youtu.be/O7wHDxPbmOw
that circle is a pagan free mason symbol.
ReplyDeleteDitto--thanks EVG for the info! Another mystery building I always wondered about. Any more info on what goes on in there now--still apartments? There are occasionally lights on here and there, but it doesn't really look totally inhabited...
ReplyDeleteThanks Marjorie and Mark...
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know, there are still apartments here. The DOB lists "2 dwelling units."
This building was the studio for artist Richard Artschwager in the 80's
ReplyDeleteI lived there in 1979. Was almost killed at the beginning of heating season because the boiler chimney was backed up. Had to call the fire department in. There was also a rehearsal studio there, at the same time. It may have been Blondie's...
ReplyDelete