Historic East New York Bank Building Will Be Torn Down and Replaced by Medical Mid-Rise
We’re sorry to report that the former East New York Savings Bank at 91 Pennsyvlania Avenue will be demolished to make way for a seven-story medical building. A demolition permit for the four-story Renaissance Revival building was issued in December. One of New York City’s most important architects, Richard Upjohn, Jr., designed the bank, which was built in…
We’re sorry to report that the former East New York Savings Bank at 91 Pennsyvlania Avenue will be demolished to make way for a seven-story medical building. A demolition permit for the four-story Renaissance Revival building was issued in December.
One of New York City’s most important architects, Richard Upjohn, Jr., designed the bank, which was built in 1889 and occupies a full block on Atlantic between Pennsyvlania and New Jersey avenues, smack in the middle of the soon-to-be-rezoned East New York business district. The property was a Building of the Day last year.
An application for a new-building permit filed last week calls for a seven-story building with 121,000 square feet of space, as well as 153 parking spots. It will house “ambulatory diagnostic or treatment health care facilities,” according to schedule A filings. Udo Maron of Array Architects is the architect of record.
The 34,000-square-foot structure last changed hands for $5,500,000 in 2005, according to public records. Jonas Rudofsky of real estate firm Squarefeet.com appears to be the owner and developer, according to permits.
With so much empty and underutilized land available in East New York, we think it’s a shame the developer chose this particular location. This building looks ideal for adaptive reuse, such as a mixed-use condo development. We haven’t seen a rendering yet but we’re not hopeful it will be better than the building there now.
Building of the Day: 91 Pennsylvania Avenue [Brownstoner] GMAP
Photo by Kate Leonova for PropertyShark
This is really sad news, I’ve often admired this building while passing through.
Yes, I agree ENY needs both jobs in the community and quality local medical care, but let’s face it: the developer is building to turn a profit, not as a charitable effort. If a similar project was proposed in BK Heights or Park Slope the community would be up in arms, but in ENY the developer probably assumes residents won’t have enough influence to impact the project.
He doesn’t sound that knowledgeable about real estate, based on the questions asked here: http://www.quora.com/Jonas-Rudofsky
It seems like these guys are on a mission to demo everything with historic value.. I think they like the look of a soul-less city. Developers this has been done already in the 1950’s US that is why most cities in the US are not all that popular.
This is a real shame. More eyesores and parking lots in an already stricken area of our city.