131 First Avenue | Block : 449 | Lot #30

Building Date : mid 19th century/1939
Original Use : Residential/Commercial

Original Owner : unknown/Aron L. Frankel
Original Architect : unknown/S. Pollack

Description & Building Alterations

This one-story brick commercial building was originally a five-story mid 19th century tenement (a flower and fruit stand constructed in 1901 adjoining the building on the north side). In 1939 the upper stories of the tenement were demolished leaving the cellar and first floor and the one-story store space was extended to cover the entire lot.

The storefront was partially replaced in 1963 due to a fire.

Block : 449 / Lot : 030 / Building Date : mid 19th century/1939 / Original Owner : unknown/Aron L. Frankel / Original Use : Residential/Commercial / Original Architect : unknown/S. Pollack

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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.