505 East 12th Street | Block : 406 | Lot #62

Description & Building Alterations

This four-story residential building was part of a development that took place on Lots 1, 2, 62 and 63 in 1847. It has been highly altered, but originally it would have looked like its Greek Revival neighbor at no. 503 East 12th Street. The facade was re-clad in new brick and the window lintels were not replaced. The ground floor still retains details from its historic storefront, and the cornice with dentils is still intact.

The building shares balconies, known as fire balconies, with its neighbor. These are like fire escapes in that they provide a second form of egress for the apartments. In the case of a fire, a tenant could enter the neighboring building through the connecting windows. The party wall between the two buildings was supposed to serve as enough of a fire-break to provide a safe route to escape.