I don’t have too much to say about this 5-story walkup building at #105 Broad Street, corner of Water, in the Financial District except to say it’s unusual for the area. The Financial District is a land of either glass towers built from the 1970s to the present, or large masonry buildings built in the 1910s and 1920s where large amounts of money are moved around. This building is a survivor of a rather old stretch of residential walkups on Water and Pearl, and likely housed people who worked the waterfront, on boats or servicing boats. This building dates as far back as 1746, with renovations and additions in 1882; it hasn’t changed much since then.
Looking at this in 1940, nothing much has changed with the brick building since then; it still has its stone exterior from that year, and the eaves over the entrances remain, too. A lunch place called Rockwell’s is on the ground floor; it hasn’t been reviewed well in Yelp. When I need lunch in this part of Manhattan, George’s Restaurant on Greenwich and Rector is my usual choice.
I mention this building since I am rereading “The Power Broker” and 105 Broad (which Robert Caro calls “105 South Broad Street”) is where Robert Moses’ brother Paul lived for the final years of his life (Robert Moses sabotaged his brother’s employment opportunities, even though he was an excellent engineer).
The ever-reliable Tom Miller, the Daytonian in Manhattan, has thoroughly researched the property.
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1/16/23