Building of the Day: 85 Water 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: 85 Water Street, between Main and Washington
Name: Private House, then commercial space, now Almondine Bakery and residential
Neighborhood: Fulton Ferry/DUMBO
Year Built: soon after 1835
Architectural Style: Federal
Architects: Unknown
Landmarked: Yes

Why chosen: This is one of the oldest buildings in the Fulton Ferry/DUMBO area, and was built as a private home on a commercial street, a little after 1835, the year this street was widened. By the 1880’s, the first floor facade had been altered, and it was converted to industrial use, and was a pepper factory, with chutes and hoppers and warehouse space, before the building was abandoned in the 1950’s. In 2003, it was chosen as a rehab project for Bob Vila’s Home Again show, sponsored by the owner, Two Trees Development. They planned retail space on the ground floor, with three apartment lofts above. The architects for the project, Della Valle and Bernheimer Design, designed the residential spaces. Mega-firm Beyer, Blinder, Belle Architects and Planners took on the facade and storefront and shepherded the project through Landmarks. Bob Vila’s son Chris was the project manager. They all did a great job. Looking at a before photo, it goes to show that a little vision, (and a big pile of money) can bring an old building back to life, in this case, preserving some of the original residential details, as well as the look of the Victorian era warehouse. Today, this popular bakery is booming, and the building once again a part of the unique neighborhood that is DUMBO and the Fulton Ferry District.

Photo: The building in 2001. Mo’s Fo-Toes, via dumbonyc.com