164 & 166 East 7th Street | Block : 402 | Lot #26-27

Description & Building Alterations

These two buildings were originally bult as row houses which were built 1852-53 and the 1858 tax records indicate that they were 4 stories in height. Between 1879 and 1880, they were raised to 5 stories.

They have recently undergone some odd renovations.  Unlike most tenements that have facades re-surfaced, this modification is neither overtly modern nor historically accurate.  Due to the poor condition of the wall surface and lintels, all of the exterior brick, the lintels and the cornices have been replaced.  The new lintels appear to be a simple cast stone material with the top most lintels having small keystones.  A peculiar detail is the new cornice which utilized brick corbelling like that of the neighboring building since the original cornice had been sheet metal in a different design.  The new building also incorporates modern entrances and air conditioner openings built into the facade.  A nice detail is the remaining fire balcony that has been either refurbished or replaced.