47 East 3rd Street; 47-49 East 3rd Street | Block : 445 | Lot #62

Building Date : 1901
Original Use : Residential/Commercial

Original Owner : Bernard Miller, Harris Mofsenson, and Jacob Brill
Original Architect : Michael Bernstein

Description & Building Alterations

This five-story with basement tenement was built in 1901, designed by architect Michael Bernstein.

The Renaissance Revival facade features elaborate entrance enframements with a modillioned door hood, quoined window enframements on the parlor floor, detailed terra cotta window surroundings on the upper floors, spandrels, and beltcourses. The current cornice is a replica of the original modillioned one. The historical cornice above the basement has been removed.

In 2003 the building was bought with the stated intention of turning it into a single-family mansion. At the time of purchase, the building had 15 primarily rent stabilized units. After years’ worth of court battles, all of the tenants were finally evicted, utilizing the state’s “personal use exemption” to rent stabilization laws, which allow tenants to be evicted if it’s for the “personal use” of the space by the owner. The renovation was completed in 2017.

Block : 445 / Lot : 062 / Building Date : 1901 / Original Owner : Bernard Miller, Harris Mofsenson, and Jacob Brill / Original Use : Residential/Commercial / Original Architect : Michael Bernstein

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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.