Ahrens Building

The Ahrens Building is a seven-story Romanesque Revival building in the Civic Center neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. The building's design, by architect George Henry Griebel, blends polychrome brickwork, terra cotta and metal over a limestone base. The building was designated a New York City Landmark in 1992.[1]

Ahrens Building
General information
TypeCommercial
Location70 Lafayette Street on corner of Franklin Street, Civic Center, Manhattan, New York City
Coordinates40°43′01″N 74°00′08″W
Construction started1894
Completed1895
Technical details
Floor count7
Design and construction
ArchitectGeorge Henry Griebel
References
New York City Landmark
Designated14 January 1992
Reference no.LP-1759

History

In 1879, liquor store owner Herman F. Ahrens purchased two properties at the corner of Elm and Franklin Streets from the William Briggs estate. The property contained two frame structures, a larger one at the corner (40 Franklin Street) and a smaller one facing Elm Street, where Ahrens moved his liquor store. In 1881, a municipal project to widen Elm Street would have forced the demolition of Ahrens' properties, leading him to develop the present-day Ahrens Building as a speculative development.[1]

Construction was briefly halted, after union workers walked off the job after learning of non-union steamfitter workers were involved in construction of the building. The Sprague Electric company installed six elevators for the building on February 16, 1895.[2]

The Ahrens Building remained in the Ahrens family until 1968, when Morris and Herbert Moskowitz acquired the property. After the sale of the building, the upper floors (which were used as storage space since the 1940s) were renovated back to office space. The ground floor has housed several bars and restaurant since the 1960s.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Ahrens Building" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. January 14, 1992. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  2. Miller, Tom (September 20, 2014). "The 1895 Ahrens Bldg - Nos. 70-74 Lafayette Street". Daytonian in Manhattan. Retrieved March 20, 2017.


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