53 St. Mark’s Place | Block : 450 | Lot #48

Building Date : 1849-50
Original Use : Residential

Original Owner : Joseph & David Davidson
Original Architect : Unknown

Description & Building Alterations

This four-story with basement building was originally erected in 1849-50. It was raised from three-an-a-half stories to the current height in 1876 during an alteration designed by A. H. Blankenstein. Most of the historical details have been stripped. The present facade features simple molded cornice, rectangular sills and simplified entrance enframement. The original stoop was removed and main entry moved to basement in 1939.

Block : 450 / Lot : 048 / Building Date : 1849-50 / Original Owner : Joseph & David Davidson / Original Use : Residential / Original Architect : Unknown

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What is the Building Blocks Project

What does a building mean to someone who lives there? A person who lives on the block? In the neighborhood? In the city? This site presents a wealth of historic information gained from GVSHP’s architectural research survey about the buildings located in the East Village.

The site explores the area generally considered today as the East Village: from a northern border of 14th Street to a southern border of Houston Street, Avenue D in the east to 4th Avenue/the Bowery to the west. You can explore the information about the blocks and buildings featured here in two ways.

Pick a block. Maybe it’s yours, or perhaps it is just your favorite place to shop, grab a bite, or just people watch. Then explore the buildings that make up that block. Or take one of the many guided tours on the site, curated by a collection of organizations and experts from the neighborhood. See how they experience the neighborhood. Then tell us what the neighborhood means to you. The site’s comments section allows you to open a dialogue with others who feel just as passionately as you do about the East Village.