230-232 East 4th Street | Block : 399 | Lot #24

Building Date : 1903
Original Use : Residential/Commercial

Original Owner : Abraham Pencilman and Jacob Fish
Original Architect : Horenburger & Straub

Description & Building Alterations

The new law tenements at 230 and 234 East 4th Street were built together in 1903. Each one was designed to house 28 families. The Renaissance Revival facade, with terra cotta lintels that alternate by floor between arched and splayed, along with beltcourses, create contrast with the warm red brick.

Between 1982 and 1983, Madonna rented an apartment on the fourth floor. At that time, the building was in poorer condition. To see a picture of it from this time, click on the 1980 Tax Photo link under Additional Resources.

Block : 399 / Lot : 24 / Building Date : 1903 / Original Owner : Abraham Pencilman and Jacob Fish / Original Use : Residential/Commercial / Original Architect : Horenburger & Straub

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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.