154 Second Avenue | Block : 451 | Lot #4

Building Date : 1937; 2014 (alteration)
Original Use : Residential/Commercial

Original Owner : Gramercy Park Memorial Chapel Inc (1937); 152-154 2nd Avenue Realty LLC (2014)
Original Architect : Landsman & Smith (1937); Issac and Stern Architects, PC (2014)

Description & Building Alterations

The six-story mixed-use building that stands today was completed as part of a significant alteration in 2014. The facade of the preexisting three-story structure was remodeled beginning in 2012 and three additional floors were eventually added to create the design we see today.

The former building was erected in 1937-38 to house the Gramercy Park Memorial Chapel funeral home on first floor and three apartments on upper floors. The building, designed by Landsman & Smith, replaced two, four-story brick tenements originally on the site. A photo of the building before the remodeling can be found in the photos section in the sidebar.

The original funeral home was founded by Sigmund Schwartz. It features two ogee arched entrance openings on each side of the building, projecting cornice above first story, point-arched window openings, patterned brickwork and engaged pilasters. Poet Delmore Schwartz’s funeral service was held here and viewed by mourners including Lou Reed.

Block : 451 / Lot : 004 / Building Date : 1937; 2014 (alteration) / Original Owner : Gramercy Park Memorial Chapel Inc (1937); 152-154 2nd Avenue Realty LLC (2014) / Original Use : Residential/Commercial / Original Architect : Landsman & Smith (1937); Issac and Stern Architects, PC (2014)

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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.