85 St. Mark’s Place; 134-136 1st Avenue | Block : 436 | Lot #60

Building Date : 1841-43/1871 alt.
Original Use : Residential/Commercial

Original Owner : J. Woodruff/Jacob
Original Architect : Unknown

Description & Building Alterations

Originally a house was constructed on this lot between 1841-43 and it is possible the current structure was the result of an extensive alteration of the original structure.

The present five story building features a bracketed cornice with decorated frieze and round-arched centerpiece inscribed “1871” on south facade. The south and west facades also feature segmental-arched molded lintels and footed sills, quoins marking the building corners, and western entrance capped by a segmental arch. The storefronts have been largely altered and some windows have been infilled with red brick.

The painter and caricaturist, Lyonel Feininger was born here on July 17, 1871.

Block : 436 / Lot : 060 / Building Date : 1841-43/1871 alt. / Original Owner : J. Woodruff/Jacob / Original Use : Residential/Commercial / Original Architect : Unknown

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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.

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