Building of the Day: 1 Front Street
The BOTD is a no-frills look at interesting structures of all types and from all neighborhoods. There will be old, new, important, forgotten, public, private, good and bad. Whatever strikes our fancy. We hope you enjoy. Address: 1 Front Street, at Old Fulton Street Name: Long Island Safe Deposit Company, now 1 Front St. Neighborhood:…
The BOTD is a no-frills look at interesting structures of all types and from all neighborhoods. There will be old, new, important, forgotten, public, private, good and bad. Whatever strikes our fancy. We hope you enjoy.
Address: 1 Front Street, at Old Fulton Street
Name: Long Island Safe Deposit Company, now 1 Front St.
Neighborhood: Fulton Ferry/DUMBO
Year Built: 1868-69
Architectural Style: Italianate
Architect: William A. Mundell
Landmarked: Yes
Why chosen: Cast iron architecture, so popular just across the river in lower Manhattan, was new to Brooklyn when William Mundell designed this beautiful Venetian-inspired, cast iron palazzo. The building was designed for the Long Island Safe Deposit Company, another new innovation for Brooklyn, setting up business in only 1861. It shared the building with The Brooklyn Bank. The architect, William Mundell, was born in Brooklyn, and designed mostly commercial and civic buildings in the New York City area. His most notable works in Brooklyn are the Williamsburg and Park Slope armories. Mundell was only twenty-four when he designed this elegant two story and a basement bank, which appears much larger than it really is, due to the scale of the other buildings around it, as well as the grand scale of the detailing and the arched windows, especially the second floor Venetian-style windows, all topped by a large cornice. The entire façade of the building is cast iron, which extends also to the inside, also clad in cast iron. This was to provide fireproofing protection, and assure customers that the contents of their safe deposit boxes were protected. The Brooklyn Bridge, built in 1883, which so dramatically rises in the background, meant the end of the Fulton Ferry area as the center of commerce. By the 1890’s, the Safe Deposit Company and the Brooklyn Bank moved to corner of Clinton and Fulton Streets, and this building became a warehouse. As the entire area fell into disuse and general abandonment, the building was ill-cared for many years, the cornice removed, and at one point, it had been painted black. Fortunately, it has been beautifully brought back to life, with a restored cornice, and a bright white paint job which makes it an immediate focal point on the street. Today it is a restaurant and club, called appropriately, 1 Front Street.
Montrose;
OK, that explains it. Thanks.
My sources are correct, Benson, but you are correct in that this was the SITE of the Fulton Ferry Terminal. However, this building replaced the terminal building. It was built for the Long Island Safe Deposit Company, they were the first tenants.
Of course, I figured you’d try to warp my words against me. Though you have made similar contradictions yourself before such as your claim that knocking down townhouses so newer denser replacement apartments could be closer to mass transit. Admirable intentions. Then you stated that more parking should be built along with other suburban-styled amenities.
Sometimes I feel you’re just the incarnation of Robert Moses, looking for his revenge on Brooklyn.
As for me, I’m open for new development as long as it’s designed well. The downside is, most of it isn’t.
“Variation helps make a block unique.”
Blayze;
I’ll remember this statement the next time the frownstoners are shrilly complaining about how a glass-and-steel condo break the “context” of a brownstone block.
The architect was only 24 when he designed this? What excuses do the Fedders-perpetrators have today!?
Benson brings up a good point. Even elegant rows of brownstones were criticized for being too cookie-cutter in their Victorian hey-day. This building does a nice job of breaking up the monotomy of what would have been similar brick, if not identical rowhouses and tenements. It may have even replaced one! Variation helps make a block unique.
Then again, if most of those critics saw the place where Benson lived today, they’d probably torch it to the ground.
By the way, note that its windows don’t line up with the adjacent building. Tsk-tsk. Oh wait!! This is an old building. Never mind.
Montrose;
I would ask you to double-check your sources here.
I could swear that I read once that this building housed the headquarters of the Fulton Ferry Co.
It’s a lovely example of early Beaux-Arts cast iron architecture, though I’ve walked by it numerous times, I suppose I’ve never given the place it’s fair due. It is a fine building.
And apparently the interior is gorgeous to boot. Check out their website at no1front.com. Very nicely done restoration of it’s stairs, window details, and interior pliasters. I’m not huge on the exposed brick parts but they’ve made it work quite well. And their second floor hall, ah. I’d love to host a party there.