New York Songlines: Greene Street

Named for Revolutionary War Gen. Nathanael Greene, one of Washington's most trusted officers. He constructed Fort Putnam in Brooklyn--later known as Fort Greene--and commanded both Fort Lee in New Jersey and Fort Washington in Washington Heights. He helped win the Battle of Trenton and served as Quartermaster General at Valley Forge.







W <===         WEST 8TH STREET         ===> E

West:

Cantor Film Center

Corner: NYU facility converted from a commercial cinema in 1998 by Davis Brody Bond. It opened in 1938 as the Art Theatre.









Corner (25 Waverly): NYU's Rufus Smith Hall

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Corner (46 E 8th): Ricky's, funky cosmetics chain. Site of apartment where Jackson Pollack lived (1933-45), in latter years with Lee Krasner. Pollack knocked down a wall here to make a huge mural for Peggy Guggenheim.







Corner (21 Waverly): Murphy and Gonzalez, Mexican/Southwestern, replaced Caliente Cab Co.--said to be a big improvement.


W <===         WAVERLY PLACE         ===> E

West:

24 (corner): NYU's Waverly Building

Asch Building

NYC - Greenwich Village: Brown Building / Triangle Shirtwaist Factory by wallyg, on Flickr

Corner (23 Washington Pl): This building was the location of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. On May 25, 1911, fire broke out in this "fireproof" building; because the fire exits had been locked, 146 workers--mostly young immigrant women--were killed. The owners of the factory settled claims against for $75 a life, but outrage over the deaths sparked a wave of union organizing and political reform.

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East:

246 (corner): NYU's gloomy Kimball Hall (1890)




















W <===         WASHINGTON PLACE         ===> E

West:

Corner (18 Washington Pl): NYU Bookstore







Corner (35 W 4th): NYU's Education Building. Includes the Frederick Loewe Theater, named for the composer of Camelot and Brigadoon; the lobby features a Musical Theater Hall of Fame.

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Corner (14 Washington Pl): Edward Koch moved into a one-bedroom, $479.49-a-month rent-controlled apartment on the 12th floor here in 1965, and continued living here after being elected mayor (despite having the use of Gracie Mansion). After losing the Democratic Primary to David Dinkins in 1989, he moved to 2 Fifth Avenue.




Corner (31 W 4th): Campus Eatery


W <===         WEST 4TH STREET         ===> E

NYC - Greenwich Village: NYU Stern School of Business by wallyg, on Flickr

40 W 4th: Tisch Hall/Stern School of Business. More of Johnson's red sandstone (1972). Space in front is Gould Plaza, featuring Jean Arp's Seuil Configuration, which looks like a silver jigsaw puzzle piece. The 1990s building with the cylindrical entrance is Stern School's New Building.


W <===                 WEST 3RD STREET                 ===> E

Washington Square Village

Washington Square Village by Padraic, on Flickr

Block: NYU housing. Construction of these behemoths (1956-58) helped inspire the preservation movement.


W <===         BLEECKER STREET         ===> E

University Village

by elconde, on Flickr

Designed by modernist architect I.M. Pei in 1966. Two are owned by NYU, the other a co-op. Check out Bust of Sylvette in center of complex, monumental cubist Picasso sculpture (1970). Most cities would make a bigger deal out of having a colossal Picasso.


W <===         WEST HOUSTON STREET         ===> E
The boundary of the Village and Soho

West:

141: The Aesthetic Realism Foundation is a kind of philosophical cult.

139: The restoration of this 1825 Federal-style house, built by merchant tailor Anthony Arnaux, was said to be New York City's "longest-running restoration project" in 1989.

137: 1882 by Henry Fernbach; houses the Sundaram Tagore Gallery

133-135: 1882 Tuscan by Henry Fernbach. 133 is the Space Unlimited gallery/cafe.

131: C.I.T.E. Design

129: A large-windowed brick building built in 1881 to a Detlef Lienau design.

127: An 1884 building credited to William Baker, though it looks just like Fernbach's next door. Home of Kelley and Ping, Asian grocery and noodle shop.

125: 1883 by Henry Fernbach, one of the architect's last works. Houses Y & Kei clothing; Kisan, Icelandic gifts.

121-123: 1882 by Henry Fernbach in a highly ornate style. 121 is Shu Uemura Beauty Boutique; Andrianna Shamaris, exotic vintage furniture; Glory Chen, shoe boutique. Classic cast iron by designevokes, on Flickr

119 (corner): Replay is in an outstanding 1882 French Renaissance cast-iron building by Jarvis Morgan Slade.

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146-150 (corner): An 1884 stone building with ironwork elements by William Worthen. Houses Moss furniture.

142-144: 1871 Tuscan by Henry Fernbach. 142 is By New York furniture, Paul Smith clothing.

138-140: 1885 by Alfred Zucker--shares an Ionic facade with its two neighbors to the south. 138 is B & B Italia furniture.

136: 1885 by Alfred Zucker. Houses the Phyllis Kind Gallery, Campaniello Italian furniture.

132-134: 1885 by Alfred Zucker. 132 is HUGO Hugo Boss clothing.

130: 1888 by Richard Berger in the classic neo-Grecian style. Home to Sarajo antiques, Alessi Italian kitchenware.











Apple Store SOHO by François @ Edito.qc.ca, on Flickr

Corner (103 Prince): Apple Store, computer superstore in the 1920s Prince Street post office with 21st Century glass furnishings.


W <===         PRINCE STREET         ===> E

West:





115: Handbags by Anya Hindmarch, who designed the "I Am Not a Plastic Bag" tote bag.

113: "If Joan Jett, Josephine Baker, and Bettie Page all shared a dressing room, Anna Sui's shop would be it." --NY Mag 17 Ironwork Buildings on Greene St by Aquistbe, on Flickr

107-111: A new section of the SoHo Hotel, built 2000 to a Joseph Pell Lombardi design. Riveted steel rather than cast iron. 111 is AG Adriano Goldschmied, designer denim store that offers complimentary espressos; 109 is Tous, Barcelona-based watch and jewelry company; 107 is Taschen, publisher of stylish and often sexy art books. 103-105 Greene Street redux by epicharmus, on Flickr

103-105: 1879 by Henry Fernbach in modified Corinthian style. This building was once half again as large, but the section at 101 was destroyed in a 1957 fire. The surviving portion has been incorporated in the SoHo Hotel. Was SoHo Kitchen & Bar. 103 houses Agnes B. Femme & Enfant, boutique.

101: Another new part of the SoHo Hotel. Designed to match the old section.

99: 1881 by Henry Fernbach in neo-Grecian style; home to Vivienne Tam clothing

97: 1881 by Henry Fernbach in neo-Grecian style, housing Armani Casa

93-95: 1881 by Henry Fernbach in neo-Grecian style. The outline of a Federal house, long since demolished, can be seen on the south wall. 93 is Anne Fontaine, French boutique. bathing ape shoes, soho by kenyee, on Flickr

91: A Bathing Ape, spendy Japanese streetwear

Corner (127 Spring): Five-story condo building dates from 1886.

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SoHo 11 by Kramchang, on Flickr

114-120: 1881 by Fernbach, built as a branch of Brooklyn's Frederick Loeser Department Store. "Very grand"--AIA Guide. 116 is Louis Vuitton; 118 is Hunting World, leather bags fit for a safari; 120 is Montblanc pens.

112: 1883 by Fernbach in Ionic style. From 1975 through 2001, this was the location of Greene St. Recording, a studio where such acts as Public Enemy, Sonic Youth and Philip Glass recorded. Pathways by designevokes, on Flickr

110: In front of the SoHo Building is an artwork embedded in the sidewalk, Subway Map Floating on a New York Sidewalk, a 1986 work by Francoise Schein. It's a more or less accurate schematic of the subway c. 1986, but the Uptown end is pointing Downtown and vice versa.

104: Mark Shilen Gallery, rugs

102: Henry Fernbach

100: 1880 by Charles Mettam houses Jill Stuart clothing.

98: 1880 by Charles Mettam-- identical to 100, though built for a different client

96: 1879 by Henry Fernbach in Tuscan style; houses Kirna Zabete, an "ultra-chic lifestyle store."









W <===         SPRING STREET         ===> E

A little north of this intersection was the spring that gave Spring Street its name. It was turned into a well by Aaron Burr, and then figured in the turn of the 19th Century's most sensational murder case.

West:

Greene & Spring by sarrazak6881, on Flickr

Corner (132A Spring): 1879-80 by Henry Fernbach, radically remodeled in a moderne style in 1936. Houses J. Lindeberg. Greene St. by sarrazak6881, on Flickr

81: 1877 by Henry Fernbach in a bold Tuscan style used in this row down to 65

79: Agnes B. Homme, boutique; Kiki de Montparnasse, high-end sex shop named for Man Ray's mistress.


Colourful Buildings by Lomogirl, on Flickr

77: 1878 by Henry Fernbach for the offices of the Jennings Lace Works, which introduced Chantilly lace to the United States. John Coltrane's drummer Rashied Ali moved to a loft here in 1971, opening a performance space called Ali's Alley. The space now houses T'Frisson, Brazilian couture with gowns going for up to $750,000. Pink and Red on Greene Street by lillergy, on Flickr

75: Also by Henry Fernbach. This

73: 1876 by Henry Fernbach, constructed by the Cornell Iron Works. Greene St. by sarrazak6881, on Flickr

69-71: 1876 by Henry Fernbach--identical to No. 73, except the cornice has been removed. 69 is BoConcept, Danish modular furniture.

67: 1872 by Henry Fernbach

65: 1872 by John B. Snook--but it looks just like No. 67. Home to Greene Street Antiques.

63: Craft Caravan Inc., art supplies

57: Modernica furniture

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East:

Greene Street, Soho by slurv, on Flickr

84-86 (corner): A stone building by Henry Fernbach, trimmed with cast iron.


DSC06290 by Kramchang, on Flickr

80-82: 1872 by Griffith Thomas, constructed as a store and warehouse. Now houses Helmut Lang; Hastens, Swedish beds.







78: B & Z Steel Equipment Co.; Rosie Pope Maternity




King of Greene Street

72-76: Considered the finest example of French Renaissance design in the Cast-Iron District, this was built in 1873 to an Isaac F. Duckworth design for the Gardner Colby Company, whose initials are on the entrance. Its Corinthian columns give it a strong 3-D effect. Note the birdlike elements in the roof pediment. 72 is Alice's Antiques, Bagutta Life boutique. There's also a shop here called King of Greene Street.


Kidrobot Pirate Store by Laughing Squid, on Flickr

70: Was the Kidrobot Pirate Store, where the art toy and clothing store had a temporary home while moving. Photo by Scott Beale/Laughing Squid.

68: 1873 by John B. Snook, built as a copy of No. 66

66: 1873 by John B. Snook, built as a tobacco store for the Lorillard Company.

62-64: 1872 by Henry Fernbach. 62 is Keiko New York.

58-60: 1871 by Henry Fernbach in Corinthian style. 60 is Nuovo Melodrom, Italian furnishings.

56 (corner): Jack Spade clothing


W <===         BROOME STREET         ===> E

On the song "Trilogy" from the album Daydream Nation, Sonic Youth sing, ""From Bowery to Broome to Greene, I'm a walking lizard."

West:

Corner (469-475 Broome): The Gunther Building, a well-preserved cast-iron "palace" designed as a warehouse for furrier William H. Gunther by Griffith Thomas, and built in 1871-72. The floors get smaller as they go up, a trick for increasing apparent height that they're very fond of at Disney World.

49: A stone building with a cast-iron pillar bearing the street number. Home to Luceplan Italian lighting.

47: Jonathan Adler pottery and housewares

45: 1882 by Morgan Slade in neo-Grecian style; note the use of the same mold for each floor.

43: Bisazza Mosaico, mosaic tiles

39: Kartell, plastic Euro furniture, is in a 1996 building by Ren Koolhaas--his first New York City project--built for the Lehmann Maupin Gallery.

37-43: 1884 by Richard Berger--"undistinguished and has lost its cornice"--GTTM

33 (corner): An 1873 cast-iron building by Benjamin W. Warner, built for an importing and commission merchant. Now home to De La Espada furniture.

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Corner (465-467 Broome): 1872 by Isaac F. Duckworth, constructed by Aetna Iron Works. Compromised by ground-floor modernization.




54: Boca Grande Furnishings, Indian furniture

52: The Painting Center





46-48: A masonry building with ornate ironwork detailing--missing its cornice. 46 is Artemide, Italian lighting.

42-44: A masonry building with an iron storefront. 42 is Flou USA, Italian bedding, and Ron Ben-Israel Cakes.




38 (corner): Lucky Brand Jeans


W <===         GRAND STREET         ===> E


"A puzzled pedestrian after nightfall, losing his way where Greene Street now crosses Grand, stepped into a deep pool and was drowned."-- John Fiske

West:

Corner (83-87 Grand): 1872 by William Hume, a Corinthian/Tuscan mix









31: 1876 by George W. DaCunha, with neo-Grecian details. "Extraordinarily ornate"--AIA Guide. Identical to 74 Grand. Houses Boffi USA furniture.














13 Green St Iron Cast Bldgs by Aquistbe, on Flickr

23-25: 1873 by Isaac F. Duckworth in French Renaissance style--"particularly impressive," says Guide to the Metropolis. Home to Vivendum furniture.

19-21: 1872 warehouse by Henry Fernbach with Tuscan pillars. 21 is home to Jacques Carcanagues Gallery, antiques and folk art with an emphasis on Asia and North Africa.

15-17: 1894 by Samuel Warner--exhibiting a later, "flattened" style. By Cornell Iron Works.









7: Nicole Miller clothing











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East:

12 Greene St Near Canal St by Aquistbe, on Flickr

Corner (89 Grand): Ingo Maurer, designer light fixtures

34: 1873 by Charles Wright in Tuscan style. The stretch from here to No. 8 is the longest strip of cast-iron buildings in the world.

32: 1873 by Isaac F. Duckworth in Corinthian style

The Queen of Greene Street

28-30 Greene Street redux by epicharmus, on Flickr

28-30: 1873 by Isaac F. Duckworth in Second Empire style--it dominates the block with its towering mansard roof. Houses USM Modular Furniture. NYC - SoHo: 20 Greene Street by wallyg, on Flickr

20-26: 1880 by Samuel Warner in Corinthian style. Joined with its two neighbors to the south in 1993 to make a single condo building.

18: 1882 by Samuel Warner 031507 027 by straightedge217, on Flickr

16: As 18.

14: 1869 by John B. Snook in Tuscan style

12: As 14.

10: As 14. Home to trans.Luxe lighting; Acne Studio, Swedish clothing collective; and Cloak, military/punk fashion

8: 1883 by John B. Snook houses Mankind clothing and Blue in Green, Japanese denim. canal rubber by benben, on Flickr

Corner (329 Canal): Canal Rubber--"If It's in Rubber, We Have It!"--since 1954


W <===         CANAL STREET         ===> E
The southern boundary of Soho








What's missing from Greene Street? Write to Jim Naureckas and tell him about it.

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