71. Building at 361 Broadway
A.K.A.: 361 Broadway; James S. White Building
Location: 361 Broadway
Built: 1881-1882
Architect: W. Wheeler Smith
National Register Number: 83001718
Listed: September 14, 1983
Visited: May 21 and 24, 2008
I believe most of these landmarks will last forever. I do. I really, absolutely do. I must believe it. It will cripple me to think otherwise. There will be no suitcase nuke in Herald Square, the oceans will rise but not totally engulf New York City, gray goo will be containable, the Mayans were wrong or maybe mistranslated or something. The Manhattan of 3008 will have pockets of familiarity, SoHo and Greenwich Village looking more or less like SoHo and Greenwich Village, but with lasers and robots. WELL IT FUCKING BETTER, anyway. And when humans evolve into super-intelligent abstractions shed of all ties to time, space, and matter, we'll just loan out our old habitats to a bright young up-and-comer species that deserves a nice break.
After a long period of less-than-optimal treatment, New York's cast-irons have by and large made into the twenty-first century in fine style. 287 Broadway, called The Leaning Tower of Broadway when the demolition next door caused it to tilt eight inches, is an obvious exception. So is 361 Broadway seven blocks down the street, although its structural integrity isn't question. Yet the elements are still taking it back. Its surface is tinted with rust. Paint's flaked off, exposing dark metal underneath at corners and edges and making it look like it's being attacked by black fungus.
It's possible this decay is a relatively recent development. The National Register nomination form published in 1983 (and available at the New York State Historic Preservation Office website) describes it as "well cared for" and the attached photos bear this out. The images at Tom Fletcher's site show a little rust but nothing like the encrustations you see today. It's sad to see 361 crumble away, ever so slightly, dispersed to the world. It'd be better if it was sparkling white. Yet the decay is oddly flattering to the building. The swirls of orangey rust on the columns, contrasted with the teal window sills: an excavation from Pompeii on Franklin Street.
361 Broadway is now home to one of the branches of Nyack College. Traditionally, 361 was home to textile concerns, but Scientific American also had their offices here at the turn of the century. Ideally they should pitch in some loot towards the restoration of the building. Not just for old times sake--I mean, c'mon, do they fucking care about the future or not?
Location: 361 Broadway
Built: 1881-1882
Architect: W. Wheeler Smith
National Register Number: 83001718
Listed: September 14, 1983
Visited: May 21 and 24, 2008
I believe most of these landmarks will last forever. I do. I really, absolutely do. I must believe it. It will cripple me to think otherwise. There will be no suitcase nuke in Herald Square, the oceans will rise but not totally engulf New York City, gray goo will be containable, the Mayans were wrong or maybe mistranslated or something. The Manhattan of 3008 will have pockets of familiarity, SoHo and Greenwich Village looking more or less like SoHo and Greenwich Village, but with lasers and robots. WELL IT FUCKING BETTER, anyway. And when humans evolve into super-intelligent abstractions shed of all ties to time, space, and matter, we'll just loan out our old habitats to a bright young up-and-comer species that deserves a nice break.
After a long period of less-than-optimal treatment, New York's cast-irons have by and large made into the twenty-first century in fine style. 287 Broadway, called The Leaning Tower of Broadway when the demolition next door caused it to tilt eight inches, is an obvious exception. So is 361 Broadway seven blocks down the street, although its structural integrity isn't question. Yet the elements are still taking it back. Its surface is tinted with rust. Paint's flaked off, exposing dark metal underneath at corners and edges and making it look like it's being attacked by black fungus.
It's possible this decay is a relatively recent development. The National Register nomination form published in 1983 (and available at the New York State Historic Preservation Office website) describes it as "well cared for" and the attached photos bear this out. The images at Tom Fletcher's site show a little rust but nothing like the encrustations you see today. It's sad to see 361 crumble away, ever so slightly, dispersed to the world. It'd be better if it was sparkling white. Yet the decay is oddly flattering to the building. The swirls of orangey rust on the columns, contrasted with the teal window sills: an excavation from Pompeii on Franklin Street.
361 Broadway is now home to one of the branches of Nyack College. Traditionally, 361 was home to textile concerns, but Scientific American also had their offices here at the turn of the century. Ideally they should pitch in some loot towards the restoration of the building. Not just for old times sake--I mean, c'mon, do they fucking care about the future or not?
Labels: Cast-Iron, Tribeca, W. Wheeler Smith
posted by Michael at
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