In 1993, TTC founder, architect Wayne Turett was invited by the Cooper-Hewitt Museum and the Young Design League to lead a 27-stop walking tour of the Flatiron district’s architecture. The group of architects and design lovers met at the corner of the Flatiron building; fittingly so. The triangular skyscraper is one of the most architecturally notable buildings in Manhattan; something that visitors from around the world come to see. The carefully-planned tour is an exploration of rich architectural New York history, diving deeper into buildings’ histories we might normally walk past without thinking about. Now, 27 years after the original tour took place, we are revisiting the iconic sites that Wayne chose to explore, and discussing the differences at each stop between then and now. Each stop is marked with an address, so you can follow along on foot if you are in New York (hint: start at 23rd Street Station if you are using the subway). But no matter where you are, this virtual tour is accessible and open to all!
This week, from Monday to Friday, we will publish the updated tour in segments – Now, all 27 stops are available on the blog for you to visit.
Today, learn about Stops 23-27.
STOP 23
Name: Judge Building
Address: 110 5th Ave
Architect: McKim, Mead & White
Year Built: 1888
(From 1993 pamphlet) This brick and granite Roman revival was built for Frank Leslie of Frank Leslie Illustrated Weekly.
(2020 update) The building’s commercial space on the street eel is a children’s toy store, and office spaces are available above.
1800s (photo from Daytonian In Manhattan)
2020 (photo from Wikipedia)
TRANSIT TRADE
Sixth Avenue shopping with many of the mainstream low to mid-priced stores.
1920 (photo from Pinterest)
2020 (photo from thephotoexplorer.com)
STOP 24
Name: Hugh O’Neill Dry Goods Store
Address: 655-671 Sixth Avenue
Architect: Mortimer Merritt
Year Built: 1888
(From 1993 pamphlet) This cast iron, Corinthian column and pilaster facade has almost fully cylindrical towers and was once crowned with domes at its two corners.
(2020 update) The store that once attracted New York’s elite suffered a partial collapse in 2012, and has since been converted to residences.
1800s (photo from NYCarchitecture.com)
2020 (photo from Gace.net)
STOP 25
Name: B Altman Dry Goods
Address: 615-629 Sixth Avenue
Architect: DJ Jardine
Year Built: 1877
(From 1993 pamphlet) Altmans moved in 1906 to their Fifth and 34th Street location.
(2020 update) Cost Plus, Marshall’s, and Bed, Bath, and Beyond are now tenants of the large retail space.
1800s (photo from Ephemeral New York)
2020 (photo from Daytonian in Manhattan)
STOP 26
Name: Seigel Cooper Dry Goods Store
Address: 620 6th Ave
Architect: Delemos & Cordes
Year Built: 1896
(From 1993 pamphlet) 15.5 acres of space with 10,000 sq/ft per floor, this building was built in record time, 1 year. The elaborate terra cotta is the mark of the Chicago World’s fair of 1893 (named Mercantile Classicism). The fountain in the middle was a common meeting place (“meet you at the fountain”). The store did not move uptown with the other stores and eventually went out of business. During WW1 it became a military hospital and after, a JC Penny warehouse. It is now occupied by small manufacturers and architects.
(2020 update) Cost Plus, Marshall’s, and Bed, Bath, and Beyond are now tenants of the large retail space.
1800s (photo from MCNY)
2020 (photo from 4urspace)
STOP 27
Name: Newsbar
Address: 2 West 19th Street
Architect: Turett Collaborative Architects
Year Built: 1991
(From 1993 pamphlet) An industrial aesthetic of concrete, metal, fiberglass creates the perfect atmosphere for this unique combination of newsstand and espresso bar.
(2020 update) What was once a location of Wayne’s NewsBar has taken on a new identity as linen store Yves Delorme.
1991 (photo from The Turett Collaborative)
Thank you for joining us on our virtual walking tour of the Flatiron district! We hope that you enjoy your adventure, whether in person or online, and that you learned a bit more about our city’s architectural history!