514 East 13th Street | Block : 406 | Lot #13

Building Date : 1853
Original Use : Residential

Original Owner : Jacob Rentz
Original Architect : Unknown

Description & Building Alterations

This building was erected in 1853 for Jacob Rentz. According to an alteration permit, in the late 20th century the building was converted from a six-family dwelling to an eight-family dwelling. The fifth story may have been added at that time. The facade has little original ornament and appears to have been re-faced with a cementitious coating to resemble brownstone. The original cornice has likely been replaced with the present, simple classical one.

Block : 406 / Lot : 013 / Building Date : 1853 / Original Owner : Jacob Rentz / Original Use : Residential / Original Architect : Unknown

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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.